Billy Hole

Billy Royce Allen Hole age 84 of Darlington WI, passed away Friday, July 1, 2022, at the Lafayette County Manor in Darlington. He was born June 4, 1939, in Orien township, Richland County WI the son of Aj and Marcelite (Cooper) Hole. Billy grew up in rural Richland Center WI and as a young man he and his father dug graves by hand in the Richland Center area with the occasional aid of dynamite. He graduated from Richland Center Highschool in 1957. After graduation, he began his career as a farmer with his father on the home farm. On June 14, 1958, Billy was united in marriage to the love of his life, Betty Walton at Ash Creek Methodist Church. Following their marriage Billy and Betty moved to Livingston WI, then to rural Cuba City where learned a lot about farming from Leo Riechers and later Calamine WI, where they started their family and purchased a dairy farm. Billy worked as a dairyman, raised livestock, harvested crop, and provided custom farm work and fencing for many years on the farm they called home. In 2001 he retired from farming and in 2017 Billy and Betty moved to the city of Darlington where they have resided since. Billy is survived by his wife of 64 years: Betty Hole at home; three children: Jim (Diane) Hole of Darlington, Kathy Hole of Monroe, WI and Bob (Penny) Hole of South Wayne, WI; seven grandchildren: Domanic (Vicki) Wiegel, Amber (Tyler) Ritchard, MacKenzie (Brian) McCauley, Jenna Hole, Kasey Gutzmer, Damon (Kim) Pax and Cassi (Mike) Kriebs; 17 great grandchildren; one brother: Jerry (Gerda) Hole of California and two sisters: Reola Parish of Stoughton, WI and Grenda (Gale) Rugg of Sparta, WI. He is preceded in death by his parents; three sisters and their spouses: Jaquelline (Bill) Gander, Patricia (Don) Zietlow and Marcia (Leonard) Rueckhiem and one brother-in-law: Martin Parish.Billy was a former member of the Faith Fellowship Church in Dodgeville, WI, the National Farmers Organization, a leader at Willow Springs club 4-H, a past board member for the Lafayette County Fair and the Cornerstone Christian School in Darlington. When Billy wasn't working, he enjoyed woodworking, helping Betty in the garden, and watching his favorite sports teams, the Green Bay Packers, and the Wisconsin Badgers. He cherished spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He and Betty loved to watch their grandchildren compete and made it to every school and sporting event that they could. Billy enjoyed a good joke and always knew how to put a smile on someone's face. Faith in Jesus Christ was a major part of Billy's life and he made sure to read his Bible every day. The memory of Billy Hole will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by all who knew him.Funeral services for Billy will be held Tuesday, July 12, 2022, at 10:00 AM at the First Baptist Church in Darlington (15691 CTY RD K Darlington, WI 53530). Burial will be held at Union Grove Cemetery in Darlington following the funeral service. A visitation will be held Monday, July 11, 2022, from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the Erickson Funeral Home in Darlington (508 Main St. Darlington WI 53530) and on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 from 9:00 AM until time of service at the church. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com The family requests that all who attend the visitation and funeral to wear casual attire.