Apple Valley, MN - William Edward Britton Obituary

William Edward Britton "Bill" age 93 of Apple Valley, MN passed away on June 6, 2025 at his home with family at his side. Bill was born in Walla Walla, WA on September 19, 1931 to Alexander and Ethel Britton. A graduate of Washington State College with a degree in Agricultural Mechanization in 1953 he went on to proudly serve his country as a heavy equipment maintenance officer in the US Army Corps of Engineers where he was stationed in Japan. Returning to Walla Walla from his service he operated a dry land wheat farm north of Touchet, WA from 1956-1967. He returned to college at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, SD. While there he excelled at technical writing and joined Deere and Co. as a technical writer in the Waterloo, IA engine works. He retired from John Deere in 1988.

Bill is preceded in death by his loving wife of 67 years, Betty Lou (Eccles); parents, and siblings, Jim (Viola) Britton and Lorraine (Joseph) McKay. He is survived by his son Kenneth Britton and wife Rita, daughter Debra Gibson and husband Don; and daughter Kathryn Slette Harris. He also leaves 12 grandchildren: Abigail Derheim, Chad Gibson, Jennifer Gibson-Weyer, Cory Gibson, Benjamin Britton, Elizabeth Soderman, Sarah Tollefson, Clayton Gibson, David Britton, Loren Gibson, Gunnar Slette, and Ruby Harris. He leaves 24 great-grandchildren.

Bill and Betty enjoyed traveling throughout their lives and in retirement they traveled the United States and Canada with their travel trailer. They traced the Oregon Trail, explored the country, and circled Lake Superior. They enjoyed taking the VIA train across the breadth of Canada and for many years made Canada Day someplace in Canada a priority.

In addition to traveling, Bill and Betty also used their retirement years to explore more of the US and lived in Springfield, MO; Shell Rock, IA; College Place, WA; and Cathedral City, CA before joining their children in Minnesota.

Friends and family are invited to attend a graveside service at Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla at 10 am on Saturday July 12, 2025.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations to The Minnesota Hospice Foundation.

minnesotahospicefoundation.org

Condolences at: www.whitefuneralhomes.com.