Meet Member Bill Dickey

Bill Dicky was born in Pennsylvania and lived there for a year while his father, Bill Dickey Sr., was in the service. Then Bill moved to Sioux Falls, grew up and attended school there. After graduation, Bill enrolled in the Estherville, Iowa, Junior College for a Criminal Justice Degree. With that in hand, Bill returned to Sioux Falls where he worked as a correction officer for Minnehaha County. Later, a local Law Enforcement officer approached Bill about becoming a policeman.


Now living in Emmetsburg, Iowa, Bill served there as a policeman for two or three years. In Emmetsburg, Bill met Sharolyn and married her. A few years later Bill became the Public Works Director, a position he still occupies. One of the several responsibilities Bill and his seven-man crew has is clearing the streets of snow. And with a total so far of seventy-two inches of snow, this year has been especially challenging.

Sharolyn, wife, is a financial officer also working in Emmetsburg. Both Bill and Sharolyn tend to their backyard. The yard has a pond with all the trimming. This takes them alot of energy and time what with their crayfish pond inhabitants. Other pets are a dog and a parrot.

Along with taking care of the streets of Emmetsburg, Bill is an EMT, on call five nights a week on ambulance runs as needed. One week, they made seven runs.

Needless to say, Bill is busy. And as much as he enjoys carving, he doesn’t find a lot of time to engage in it. Carving about eighteen years, the majority of his carving is done with his family and friends at workshops. They have attended workshops in Forest City and Bill has helped in setting up workshops in Emmetsburg. Teachers have included carver John Burke and Lloyd Meng. Bill says he is appreciative of friendships at those events and also here in our club.

Bill’s first carving was an Indian bust, of Butternut, well soaked wood, and carved wet. Today, it sits in their dining room along with other Burke and Meng carvings. Bill also enjoys caricature projects.

The only problem Bill had with carving was the time he and eight other carvers dremeled their way into a project in the family garage. Suffice to say they raised a lot of dust, which made its way through the whole house. Sharolyn is very supportive though, today inviting Bill into her kitchen to do his carving. Just no more dremeling groups. Sharolyn, we understand and especially so our wives.

Bill would like to be more active in our club but distance is a big problem. Bill, you are welcome here whenever it works out for you.