NEWTON — Reverend Loren W. ‘Bill’ Hickerson, 89, of Newton, Kan., passed away Tuesday night March 10th, 2026 at his home in the presence of family. He was born March 5th, 1937 in Newton, Kan. to Loren J. and Zella M. Stoulfus Hickerson. Bill was a Minister with the United Church of Christ for 54 years serving churches in the Berkshire Hills of Mass., Harlan, Iowa, Great Bend, Kan., Lakewood, Colo., Neillsville, Wisc., Levasy, Mo., and Newton, Kan. He retired from full time ministry from the Ebenezer United Church of Christ in Levasy, Mo. in 2000. After retiring he served as part time Minister at the First United Church of Christ, Newton Kan., and then served as an Interim Minister at Highland Trinity United Church of Christ, Newton, Kan. Over the span of his career, Bill touched many lives through his Christian Ministry.
In addition to his Ministry, Bill’s big love was his family and spending time with them camping, fishing, and traveling.
He was very involved in service of others in his life. He served as a Volunteer Fireman, Police Chaplain, Advocate for CASA, and College Instructor.
He was a member of the Newton Masonic Lodge and the past Midian Shrine Temple in Wichita, as well as other civic organizations.
Bill was raised in Newton and graduated from Newton High School with the Class of 1955. He was united in marriage to Karen K. Pummill on Nov. 27, 1957 in Newton. He graduated from the University of Wichita in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts, then Hartford Theological Seminary in Hartford, Conn., receiving his Masters of Divinity in 1966.
He was preceded in death by his parents. Bill is survived by his wife Karen of Newton; children Dan Hickerson and wife Jennifer of Wichita, Kan., Dave Hickerson and wife Geri of Wichita, Kan., Cindi Forney and husband Merrit of Lee’s Summit, Mo., Marc Hickerson and wife Jamie of Battlefield, Mo.; foster daughter, Georgia Dietz of Sioux City, Iowa; grandchildren, Melanie Davison, Casey Tarrant, Lindsay Hay, Christine Umbehr, Michael McCoy, John Hickerson, Bethany Forney, Aaron Hickerson, Scott Hickerson, Anne Davis, Taylor Hickerson, Joe Hickerson, Natalie Hickerson, Trevor Forney, Lauryn Harper and Jude Hickerson; and 28 great grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held 10 a.m. Monday, March 16th, 2026 at The First United Methodist Church in Newton. Burial will be at Restlawn Gardens of Memory in Newton. Visitation will be held at Petersen Funeral Home on Sunday, March 15th, 2026 from 1 to 5 p.m. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Memorial Contributions can be made to Shriners Hospital for Children.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Petersen Funeral Home
215 N. Main St
Newton, KS 67114
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, March 14, 2026
