William Raymond "Bill" Thayer

William Raymond Thayer, 80, of McCook Lake, SD passed away Sunday, November 1, 2020 at his residence.

Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, a private family Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Teresa Catholic Church in Dakota Dunes, SD.  Family will greet friends at St. Teresa Catholic Church with a vigil service from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on November 4^th 2020.  Burial will be at McCook Lake Cemetery.  Online condolences may be given at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

William Raymond Thayer was born September 18, 1940 in Aurora County SD, the son of Donald A Thayer and Ruth E (McBride) Thayer. His grandparents were William (Ray) Thayer, Blanche (Bullis) Thayer and William McBride and Florence (Merkle) McBride.  He attended rural schools in Aurora County, SD and graduated from White Lake, SD High School in 1958.  Bill graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University with a degree in Business Administration in 1964 and graduated from St. Thomas University in St. Paul, MN in 1977 with a Master of Business Administration degree.  Bill married Janet Marie Reed in St. Cloud MN in 1967.

Bill worked in the long-term care field until retirement in 2001 as Director of Administration at Ebenezer Society Minneapolis, NM and President and CEO at Madrid Home, Madrid IA.

He held volunteer positions in not for profit aging organizations: Chair of Iowa Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, President of American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, Chair of Lutheran Services of America, Chair of Medical Assistance Advisory Council in Iowa, President of Hospice of Central Iowa Volunteer Council, Member of Iowa Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators and a Delegate to the White House Conference on Aging.  Bill also volunteered for community organizations: Finance Committee and Eucharistic Minister at St. Malachy’s Catholic Church and St. Teresa’s Catholic Church, Life Member of the Knights of Columbus and Senior Health Insurance Information Program Counselor in Iowa.  He enjoyed grandchildren, gardening, fishing, camping, traveling and gambling

Survivors include his beloved wife of 53 years, Janet Thayer of McCook Lake, SD; Children:  Dr. Kristine Danner and her husband Joseph of McCook Lake SD, Mark Thayer and his wife Michelle of Newton IA and Dr. Kimberly Brooker and her husband Steven of Seattle WA; Grandchildren: Gregory Danner, William Danner, Michael Danner, Erick Danner, Stephen Danner, Robert Danner, Mary Danner, Johnathan Danner, Maddison Thayer, Mitchell Thayer, Kirsten Brooker, Megan Brooker, Scarlett Brooker, Juliet Brooker and Felicity Brooker and great granddaughter Emberlynn Danner; Brother Dr. Don Thayer and wife Judy of Brodhead WI, Sister Donna Hall and husband Norval of Craig CO, Brother Rodney Thayer of Somerset KY and Sister Vickie Blindauer and husband Lester of Letcher SD

Memorials may be sent to St. Teresa’s Catholic Church in Bill’s memory.