William “Bill” Talley, 83, of Rochester, Minnesota died on June 23, 2020 at his daughter Jayme’s home in Eyota, Minnesota. He was receiving in-home hospice care since March of 2020 due to congestive heart failure and kidney disease. He died peacefully surrounded by his family members.
Bill was born on February 13, 1937 to Louise (Erickson) and John Talley of Lakeville, MN. He attended high school in Prior Lake, Minnesota, where he spent most of his childhood living on a family farm. Late in his high school career his family moved to Lakeville, MN where they continue to have roots.
He was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Myrna (Paukner) Talley, who died in 1975 of a brain aneurysm; his daughter Jean Talley-Dance, who died in 1996 of a brain aneurysm; two of his siblings Shirley Marek and John Talley; and his parents John and Louise.
He is survived by his wife Marina Kotova of Rochester, MN; children Jayme Hakes (Don) of Eyota, MN, John Talley (Cindy) of Austin, TX, Jill Russell (David) of Brooklyn Center, MN; stepson Oleg Kotov (Stacie) of Brooklyn, NY; grandchildren Tyler, Travis, MacKenzie, Jacob, Sarah, Samantha, Zachary, William, Andrew, Grant, Juliette, and Margot; great grandchildren Lincoln, Murphy, Rhylee and Coralina; sister MaryLou Thomas; and brothers George Talley, and James Talley.
Bill received a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN and two Master’s degrees - one in Education from Mankato State University and one in Literacy from Winona State University. Bill was an English and Speech teacher for 35 years at Mayo High School and later at Rochester Community and Technical College. Teaching was a passion of his, and being a long-time resident of Rochester, he often ran into former students whom remembered him fondly.
Bill was an affectionate father and unwavering care provider for his family. He met his loving wife Marina in 1994, while teaching alongside his daughter Jean, at an English Language School in Moscow, Russia. Bill was last a member of Resurrection Catholic Church; however, while raising his children he attended Saint Francis, where he was a lector and CCD teacher for years. Bill was an amazing father, who raised his four children as a widower during the ’70 and ‘80’s, a time when single fathers were unheard of. Then after marrying Marina, he assisted in raising her teenage son Oleg, who became a cherished person in Bill’s life.
There will be a private Funeral Mass for Bill at Resurrection Catholic Church in Rochester, MN. His burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.
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