Frederick: The funeral service for Willard I. Buffalo Bill Sumption, 90, of Frederick will be 10 a.m. Saturday, May 25, 2013, at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, with Pastor Joanne Nagele officiating. Burial at 1 p.m. at Wayside Cemetery, Frederick. Willard died Sunday, May 19, at his home.
Visitation will be from 1 to 7 p.m., with family present from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 S. Main St., Aberdeen.
Willard Irving Sumption was born Sept. 5, 1922, in Aberdeen to Guy and Ada (Taskerud) Sumption. He grew up and attended school in Richland Township. He entered the U.S. Army on March 8, 1945, serving in Hawaii and the Philipine Islands. He was honorably discharged Nov. 27, 1946. He moved back to the family farm near Frederick. In 1948, he married Doris Wendling. They made their home on the ranch, where he raised cattle and buffalo. Later, he married Darlene Jennings. He continued to live on the ranch until the time of his death.
After his discharge from the Army, Willard returned to the ranch, where he raised shorthorn cattle with his brothers. They took great pride in the genetics and quality of their cattle and many calves became 4-H State and National champions. Willard was well known for his passion for buffalo. He acquired his first buffalos in 1952. He especially looked forward to the spring of the year when the new buffalo calves were born. It was a great source of enjoyment for him to see new born buffalo calves scattered throughout the prairie pasture. His involvement with the buffalo and the buffalo hunts allowed him the opportunity to connect and develop many friendships over the years. He actively maintained his herd of buffalo until the time of his death. Willard was an avid hunter and had a great passion for dancing and socializing. He had many fond memories of pheasant hunts during the 1960s and 1970s with his wide circle of friends.
Grateful for having shared Willard's life are his children: Marilyn (Jack) Goodman, Cupertino, Calif.; Gary (LaDonna) Sumption, Frederick; Lauri (Gary) Graves, Pierre; Milton (Kara) Sumption, Lake Bluff, Ill.; Nancy (Mike Sing) Sumption, McLean, Va.; grandchildren: Jae (Dawn) Goodman, Wyatt and Tyler Sumption, Tane and Colton Graves, Luke and Katelyn Sumption and Hanna Sing; greatgrandchildren: Daisy and Dean; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Willard was preceded in death by his parents: Guy and Ada Sumption and all of his brothers and sisters: Clarence Sumption, Marion Larson, Emery Sumption, Raymond Sumption, Jack Sumption, Leonard Sumption, Guy Sumption, Jr., Ada Mae McDonald and Herbert Sumption.
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