William “Billy” Brent Hicks died July 25, 2023, at the age of 51. He was on his bike, under expansive Iowa skies, doing what he loved with those he loved.
Billy was born June 4, 1972, in Des Moines, Iowa, to William and Lynda (Appley) Hicks. He moved as an infant to Sibley, Iowa, where he grew up and attended elementary through high school.
He spent many hours as a boy playing outside, down at the creek, and in the barn. In high school, he was involved in many activities and developed lifelong friendships.
Billy earned his undergraduate degree at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, and then attended medical school at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He served in pediatrics in St. Cloud for five years, before pursuing a fellowship in Allergy and Immunology in Michigan.
He was a well-loved allergy physician in the HealthEast care system, more recently with Allina Health. He was kind, supportive and appreciative of those he worked with in clinics, and positively influenced those around him. He was known to his patients as a person who really listened to them and explained health concerns in an accessible manner.
Billy loved being with his boys. Even after sleep-deprived 36-hour shifts during his medical residency, Billy chose to play blocks or fly the boys through the sky rather than nap when he came home. As his sons grew, he enjoyed playing chess and tennis with Elliot and cycling and drawing with Oliver. He had a beautiful singing voice, and joined in many a road-trip sing-along.
At heart, Billy was an artist and a maker. He was accepted and completed the MN Nice fellowship in 2020 through the Northern Clay Center where he clarified his creative expression. Billy shared studio and gallery space at the Northrup King Building in Northeast Minneapolis, where he crafted and sold his pottery.
Billy was also an avid and lifelong cyclist. Starting with his first ride at the age of 13 with his mom and other extended family members, he rode RAGBRAI, a group ride across the state of Iowa.
Billy lived in St. Anthony Park with his spouse, June Shields. They shared adventures of cycling, hiking and canoeing. They designed a house together and worked endless hours on forest and shoreline restoration on their land near Marine on St. Croix.
He is survived by his partner, June Shields; sons Elliot and Oliver Hicks and their mother Jennifer Bowen; his mother Lynda Hicks; brother Jonathan (Kari) Hicks; and sister Elizabeth (Barry) DeHaan.
A service was held. Memorials are suggested to the Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis.
