Elbert "Bill" Wilson

Elbert “Bill” Wilson, 91, of Bismarck, passed away peacefully on April 30, 2025, at his home with his loving wife by his side.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at McCabe United Methodist Church. The family will be receiving guests one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow the service at 12:00 PM at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Elbert W. (Bill) Wilson was born April 17, (his Grandpa Wilson's birthday) 1934 in Velva, ND to Roland & Florence Wilson and lived in Ruso, ND until 1942, when Roland, who was a rural mailman, was transferred to Anamoose ND.

Bill graduated from Anamoose High School in 1952. Bill taught in a rural one room school for two years. He volunteered for the draft and was called in September 1954. Bill served 2 years in the Army Medical Section in 7th Army Headquarters near Stuttgart Germany until September 1956. He earned the rank of SP2/ E5.

After his honorable discharge from the Army, Bill started college at Minot State University. Bill realized college wasn't for him so he moved his family - which at that time included his wife, Colleen, and oldest son, Kurt - to San Jose CA for six years working for Langfield Frozen Foods delivering to grocery stores in the Bay area. Traffic was too much so Bill and his family moved back to Minot ND where he went to work for Red Owl grocery stores. He worked for Super Valu Stores, Inc. as a retail counselor.

In November, 1980 Bill married his soul mate, Bertha Deis, in Plentywood MT. In 1982 they purchased Roy's Super Valu in Plentywood MT for 9 years. In 1992 Bill had open heart surgery. Three years later Bill and Bertha made Bismarck their home. Bill, being the people person that he was, wasn't ready to retire just yet which led him to working part time for JC Penney and Don's Electric finally retiring at age 75.

Bill loved music, singing with many choirs in both Plentywood and Bismarck and was director of a couple church choirs. He played trombone in Anamoose High School band and was self taught on the key board when recovering from heart surgery. He was an avid reader and could spend many hours watching westerns and movies. Bill was a skilled woodworker. In 1980 the signature mustache was born.

Bill was recently honored by Hospice of the Red River Valley with a Veteran's Honoring Ceremony. A highlight was that all three of his children were in attendance.

Bill is survived by his wife, Bertha, sons Kurt and Bradley (Nancy), daughter JoLyne, 12 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.

He is preceded in death by his parents, son Kent, daughter-in-law Billie Wilson, and all his siblings and their spouses Bob (Lorraine), Joan, Jean, Karen (Paul).

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery at https://www.ndvcf.org/ or McCabe United Methodist Church at https://www.mccabechurch.com/give/