William D. Reber

William D. Reber, 88, died on Feb. 11, 2018, in Rio Verde, Ariz. with his family by his side. Bill was born in Braham, Minn., Aug. 2, 1929 to Lyle and Olga Reber. He graduated from the Cambridge High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Speech at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. His love of the art of language and music led him toward both his occupation and his hobbies.

Bill taught high school English, speech and debate in 1952 in New Ulm, Minn. shortly after marrying his wife, Betty. While in his teaching years he found great pleasure in coaching the debate team and led a theater troupe in one-act and various class plays. In 1954, Bill, Betty and daughter, Mary, moved to Minneapolis where Bill taught English at Patrick Henry High School.

After the school year of 1957, he resigned as a teacher and joined the account management department at Campbell Methuen Advertising Agency, and his new career began. He was also working to both help raise a family and get his master’s Degree in speech and theater, and achieved it in 1963 from the U of M.

In 1965 he had a great opportunity to move to the advertising agency Batton, Barton Durnstine and Osborne (BBDO). By 1970 Bill was asked to move his family to Boston to manage the BBDO office. After five years in Boston, he moved his passion for the ad business back to Minneapolis as the senior VP and general manager of the BBDO Minneapolis (now Omnicom Group).

Bill was active on numerous boards and organizations even after retirement, which allowed him to continue with his enthusiasm for writing and music. He served as an active member of the boards of the Minnesota Orchestra, the BBDO Domestic Board of Agency, The United Way, Piper Jaffray ESOP Board and the Society of Fine Arts, and more.

By the early 1980s Bill and Betty would split their time between Edina, Minn. and Rio Verde, where they welcomed their children and five grandkids. Bill was most happy when he was teaching his children and his grandkids the gift of athleticism, music, the grasp of the English language and his love for his family. He enjoyed singing in the Rio Verde choir for over 30 years.

Surviving Bill, is his wife of 65 years, Betty; daughter, Mary (Greg) Auburn of Maine; grandchildren, Alexandra (Adam) of NYC, Anna, Phoenix.; son, William (Darcy), Edina, Minn.; grandchildren, Joshua (Katie), Matthew and Samantha, Edina, Minn.; sister, Faye Reber, Bloomington, Minn.

Memorials can be made to VerdeCares Inc., 18934 Avenida Del Ray, Suite 106, Rio Verde, AZ 85263 or Community Church of the Verdes, 25603 N. Danny Lane, Rio Verde, AZ 85263.