- Date Of Birth: May 29, 1928
- Date Of Death: March 06, 2021
- City: Peetz
- State: Colorado
Rod was born the oldest of four brothers on the family farm west of Peetz, CO on May 29, 1928 to Hugh E. “Hap” Williams and Lela (Pearson) Williams. Rod was a lifelong farmer. He attended schools in Peetz until the school burned down, forcing his class to graduate from Sterling in 1945. He then attended NJC for two years before moving back to the farm to continue his lifelong love affair with the land.
For short periods of time, Rod worked in Oregon’s timber industry as well as in the oil fields of Kansas-Nebraska Gas. Later he became a licensed realtor in Colorado and Arizona and began crop adjusting in 1988, but no matter where his work carried him, he always considered his Peetz farm to be “home.”
Rod and his brothers were all raised in the old EUB Church where their parents were active. As an adult, he served the church in various leadership roles and loved singing in the choir. He was also active in the Logan County Republican Party, the Peetz Farmers Coop Board, and the building of the new elevator and feed mill. Rod was a member of Peetz Lions and Sterling BPO Elks Lodge #1336. He loved joy rides on ATV’s, woodworking, photography, and spending time with his family. Rod and Royce have both enjoyed traveling together. He is lovingly remembered and will be greatly missed.
In 1948, Rod married the late Toni Mae Robbins of Sidney, Nebraska and to this union two children were born; Cindy and Randy, both who preceded him in death. Rod had a wonderful relationship with his children loving them from childhood to adulthood and then missing them terribly after their passing. In 1987, Rod married Royce Koch in Las Vegas, Nevada. They were married 34 years and they lived on the family farm until 2007 when they moved to Sterling and Rod semi-retired. When Rod and Royce wed; Rod’s family expanded to include two daughters, Pam, and Sharon and one son, David. He loved them as much as they loved him. Over the years, Rod’s family grew to include numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents Hugh and Lela; first wife Toni; children Cindy and Randy and brothers Robert, Stanley and David.
Rod is survived by his loving wife Royce; grandchildren Kendahl, Mark, and Rachel from Rod’s daughter Cindy; Christopher and Heather from Rod’s son Randy and nine great-grandchildren; stepchildren Pam, Sharon and David; 6 step-grandchildren and ten step-great-grandchildren.
