Willard "Bill" Purath, 82, died Thursday, March 29, 2007 due to complications from colon cancer, at his home in Red Lake Falls, MN.
Funeral service will be 2:00 PM Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at Bethany Lutheran Church, Red Lake Falls, MN, with Pastor Tom Potter and Pastor Gary Graff co-officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Red Lake Falls, MN.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Monday, April 2, 2007 at Johnson Funeral Service in Red Lake Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral.
Willard M. Purath was born March 30, 1924 in Lake Pleasant Township, Red Lake County, MN, the son of Fred L. and Emma (Schaper) Purath. He was baptized at First Presbyterian Church, Red Lake Falls, MN. He grew up in the area and attended Perreault School District 32 and graduated from Lafayette High School in 1942. He worked for Sears Roebuck, Minneapolis, MN after graduating from high school. Willard served his country in the United States Army Air Force for 2 years, 9 months and 29 days. He was stationed in Guam, serving in a B-29 Squadron and was honorably discharged on March 2, 1946. Following his military duty, he attended the University of North Dakota for 1 ½ years.
On September 30, 1948, Willard was united in marriage to Pauline Finkenbinder at First Presbyterian Church in Crookston. He was a full-time farmer from 1948-1988.
Bill was a lifetime member and elder of First Presbyterian Church, Red Lake Falls. He also was a member of Northwestern Stockman's Association and Minnesota Wheat Grower's Association. He served on the Red Lake Falls School Board, Red Lake County Board of Commissioners, was township assessor and was on the Board of Northwest Apartments. He was selected the first King Agassiz of Red Lake County, Outstanding Senior Citizen of Red Lake County and Red Lake Falls Farm Couple of the Year. Bill also was an honorary lifetime member of Red River Valley Angus Association. He enjoyed sports, especially watching his grandchildren play. His hobbies were reading, and playing cards. His life was his family and friends, observing the achievements of his children and grandchildren, his church, farming and Black Angus cattle. When he "retired" he enjoyed early morning golf, the Bethany Men's Bible Study and coffee at Memories.
Willard succumbed to many challenging health problems without complaint, since diagnosis of colon cancer, in January 2005. He faced his cancer straightforwardly armed with courage. Courage is the quality of spirit that enables one to encounter danger with firmness and without fear. Willard ignored the odds and percentages. He had no other choice but to emotionally give up or fight with all he had. Cancer is not a form of death but a form of life. The Lord never promised us an easy road, but he did promise to be with us on that road.
Willard is survived by loving wife, Pauline, Red Lake Falls, MN; children: Gary (Patricia) Purath, Red Lake Falls, MN, Janet (Tim Croxton) Purath, Spokane, WA, JeAnne (Charlie) Green, Breckenridge, MN and Douglas (Donna) Purath, Corsicana, TX; grandchildren: Brenda Green Loss, Nathan Purath, Jodi Purath Knott, Shawn Green Duerr, Layce Purath, Joshua Purath and Darci Purath; great grandchildren: Noelle Joy Loss and Briggs Alan Knott; sisters: Esther (Herbert) Walter, Plummer, MN and Fern Slotnick, Millbrae, CA; brothers: Ernest Purath, Enumclaw, WA and Darrell Purath, Fort Collins, CO.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Emma; brother, Russell Purath in 1956; brothers-in-law, Hal Slotnick and Larry Bergh; and granddaughter, Robyn Purath.
Funeral service will be 2:00 PM Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at Bethany Lutheran Church, Red Lake Falls, MN, with Pastor Tom Potter and Pastor Gary Graff co-officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Red Lake Falls, MN.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Monday, April 2, 2007 at Johnson Funeral Service in Red Lake Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral.
Willard M. Purath was born March 30, 1924 in Lake Pleasant Township, Red Lake County, MN, the son of Fred L. and Emma (Schaper) Purath. He was baptized at First Presbyterian Church, Red Lake Falls, MN. He grew up in the area and attended Perreault School District 32 and graduated from Lafayette High School in 1942. He worked for Sears Roebuck, Minneapolis, MN after graduating from high school. Willard served his country in the United States Army Air Force for 2 years, 9 months and 29 days. He was stationed in Guam, serving in a B-29 Squadron and was honorably discharged on March 2, 1946. Following his military duty, he attended the University of North Dakota for 1 ½ years.
On September 30, 1948, Willard was united in marriage to Pauline Finkenbinder at First Presbyterian Church in Crookston. He was a full-time farmer from 1948-1988.
Bill was a lifetime member and elder of First Presbyterian Church, Red Lake Falls. He also was a member of Northwestern Stockman's Association and Minnesota Wheat Grower's Association. He served on the Red Lake Falls School Board, Red Lake County Board of Commissioners, was township assessor and was on the Board of Northwest Apartments. He was selected the first King Agassiz of Red Lake County, Outstanding Senior Citizen of Red Lake County and Red Lake Falls Farm Couple of the Year. Bill also was an honorary lifetime member of Red River Valley Angus Association. He enjoyed sports, especially watching his grandchildren play. His hobbies were reading, and playing cards. His life was his family and friends, observing the achievements of his children and grandchildren, his church, farming and Black Angus cattle. When he "retired" he enjoyed early morning golf, the Bethany Men's Bible Study and coffee at Memories.
Willard succumbed to many challenging health problems without complaint, since diagnosis of colon cancer, in January 2005. He faced his cancer straightforwardly armed with courage. Courage is the quality of spirit that enables one to encounter danger with firmness and without fear. Willard ignored the odds and percentages. He had no other choice but to emotionally give up or fight with all he had. Cancer is not a form of death but a form of life. The Lord never promised us an easy road, but he did promise to be with us on that road.
Willard is survived by loving wife, Pauline, Red Lake Falls, MN; children: Gary (Patricia) Purath, Red Lake Falls, MN, Janet (Tim Croxton) Purath, Spokane, WA, JeAnne (Charlie) Green, Breckenridge, MN and Douglas (Donna) Purath, Corsicana, TX; grandchildren: Brenda Green Loss, Nathan Purath, Jodi Purath Knott, Shawn Green Duerr, Layce Purath, Joshua Purath and Darci Purath; great grandchildren: Noelle Joy Loss and Briggs Alan Knott; sisters: Esther (Herbert) Walter, Plummer, MN and Fern Slotnick, Millbrae, CA; brothers: Ernest Purath, Enumclaw, WA and Darrell Purath, Fort Collins, CO.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Emma; brother, Russell Purath in 1956; brothers-in-law, Hal Slotnick and Larry Bergh; and granddaughter, Robyn Purath.
Willard "Bill" Purath, 82, died Thursday, March 29, 2007 due to complications from colon cancer, at his home in Red Lake Falls, MN.
Funeral service will be 2:00 PM Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at Bethany Lutheran Church, Red Lake Falls, MN, with Pastor Tom Potter and Pastor Gary Graff co-officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Red Lake Falls, MN.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Monday, April 2, 2007 at Johnson Funeral Service in Red Lake Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral.
Willard M. Purath was born March 30, 1924 in Lake Pleasant Township, Red Lake County, MN, the son of Fred L. and Emma (Schaper) Purath. He was baptized at First Presbyterian Church, Red Lake Falls, MN. He grew up in the area and attended Perreault School District 32 and graduated from Lafayette High School in 1942. He worked for Sears Roebuck, Minneapolis, MN after graduating from high school. Willard served his country in the United States Army Air Force for 2 years, 9 months and 29 days. He was stationed in Guam, serving in a B-29 Squadron and was honorably discharged on March 2, 1946. Following his military duty, he attended the University of North Dakota for 1 ½ years.
On September 30, 1948, Willard was united in marriage to Pauline Finkenbinder at First Presbyterian Church in Crookston. He was a full-time farmer from 1948-1988.
Bill was a lifetime member and elder of First Presbyterian Church, Red Lake Falls. He also was a member of Northwestern Stockman's Association and Minnesota Wheat Grower's Association. He served on the Red Lake Falls School Board, Red Lake County Board of Commissioners, was township assessor and was on the Board of Northwest Apartments. He was selected the first King Agassiz of Red Lake County, Outstanding Senior Citizen of Red Lake County and Red Lake Falls Farm Couple of the Year. Bill also was an honorary lifetime member of Red River Valley Angus Association. He enjoyed sports, especially watching his grandchildren play. His hobbies were reading, and playing cards. His life was his family and friends, observing the achievements of his children and grandchildren, his church, farming and Black Angus cattle. When he "retired" he enjoyed early morning golf, the Bethany Men's Bible Study and coffee at Memories.
Willard succumbed to many challenging health problems without complaint, since diagnosis of colon cancer, in January 2005. He faced his cancer straightforwardly armed with courage. Courage is the quality of spirit that enables one to encounter danger with firmness and without fear. Willard ignored the odds and percentages. He had no other choice but to emotionally give up or fight with all he had. Cancer is not a form of death but a form of life. The Lord never promised us an easy road, but he did promise to be with us on that road.
Willard is survived by loving wife, Pauline, Red Lake Falls, MN; children: Gary (Patricia) Purath, Red Lake Falls, MN, Janet (Tim Croxton) Purath, Spokane, WA, JeAnne (Charlie) Green, Breckenridge, MN and Douglas (Donna) Purath, Corsicana, TX; grandchildren: Brenda Green Loss, Nathan Purath, Jodi Purath Knott, Shawn Green Duerr, Layce Purath, Joshua Purath and Darci Purath; great grandchildren: Noelle Joy Loss and Briggs Alan Knott; sisters: Esther (Herbert) Walter, Plummer, MN and Fern Slotnick, Millbrae, CA; brothers: Ernest Purath, Enumclaw, WA and Darrell Purath, Fort Collins, CO.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Emma; brother, Russell Purath in 1956; brothers-in-law, Hal Slotnick and Larry Bergh; and granddaughter, Robyn Purath.
Funeral service will be 2:00 PM Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at Bethany Lutheran Church, Red Lake Falls, MN, with Pastor Tom Potter and Pastor Gary Graff co-officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Red Lake Falls, MN.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Monday, April 2, 2007 at Johnson Funeral Service in Red Lake Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral.
Willard M. Purath was born March 30, 1924 in Lake Pleasant Township, Red Lake County, MN, the son of Fred L. and Emma (Schaper) Purath. He was baptized at First Presbyterian Church, Red Lake Falls, MN. He grew up in the area and attended Perreault School District 32 and graduated from Lafayette High School in 1942. He worked for Sears Roebuck, Minneapolis, MN after graduating from high school. Willard served his country in the United States Army Air Force for 2 years, 9 months and 29 days. He was stationed in Guam, serving in a B-29 Squadron and was honorably discharged on March 2, 1946. Following his military duty, he attended the University of North Dakota for 1 ½ years.
On September 30, 1948, Willard was united in marriage to Pauline Finkenbinder at First Presbyterian Church in Crookston. He was a full-time farmer from 1948-1988.
Bill was a lifetime member and elder of First Presbyterian Church, Red Lake Falls. He also was a member of Northwestern Stockman's Association and Minnesota Wheat Grower's Association. He served on the Red Lake Falls School Board, Red Lake County Board of Commissioners, was township assessor and was on the Board of Northwest Apartments. He was selected the first King Agassiz of Red Lake County, Outstanding Senior Citizen of Red Lake County and Red Lake Falls Farm Couple of the Year. Bill also was an honorary lifetime member of Red River Valley Angus Association. He enjoyed sports, especially watching his grandchildren play. His hobbies were reading, and playing cards. His life was his family and friends, observing the achievements of his children and grandchildren, his church, farming and Black Angus cattle. When he "retired" he enjoyed early morning golf, the Bethany Men's Bible Study and coffee at Memories.
Willard succumbed to many challenging health problems without complaint, since diagnosis of colon cancer, in January 2005. He faced his cancer straightforwardly armed with courage. Courage is the quality of spirit that enables one to encounter danger with firmness and without fear. Willard ignored the odds and percentages. He had no other choice but to emotionally give up or fight with all he had. Cancer is not a form of death but a form of life. The Lord never promised us an easy road, but he did promise to be with us on that road.
Willard is survived by loving wife, Pauline, Red Lake Falls, MN; children: Gary (Patricia) Purath, Red Lake Falls, MN, Janet (Tim Croxton) Purath, Spokane, WA, JeAnne (Charlie) Green, Breckenridge, MN and Douglas (Donna) Purath, Corsicana, TX; grandchildren: Brenda Green Loss, Nathan Purath, Jodi Purath Knott, Shawn Green Duerr, Layce Purath, Joshua Purath and Darci Purath; great grandchildren: Noelle Joy Loss and Briggs Alan Knott; sisters: Esther (Herbert) Walter, Plummer, MN and Fern Slotnick, Millbrae, CA; brothers: Ernest Purath, Enumclaw, WA and Darrell Purath, Fort Collins, CO.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Emma; brother, Russell Purath in 1956; brothers-in-law, Hal Slotnick and Larry Bergh; and granddaughter, Robyn Purath.
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