William Williams

William Russell Williams, 90, a resident of Fergus Falls, formerly of Salina, KS died Thursday, January 28, 2010 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Fergus Falls. Bill was born on June 1, 1919 in Portsmouth, Ohio, the second son of William R. and Ruth (Robinson) Williams. He graduated from Portsmouth High School and attended Ken Peterson School for Automobile Dealers and Sales Manager in Cincinnati, Ohio. In his younger days, he had his own orchestra, “Billy Williams and His Bachelors of Swing.” The group played night clubs, proms and radio gigs in the 1940s until World War II broke out. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a private and was commissioned in 1942. He became the first officer to arrive to help set up Smoky Hill Army Air Field, later known as Schilling Air Force Base in Salina, Kansas. He went on to serve in Panama and the Aleutian Islands. Upon returning from the war, he held various jobs as a Cadillac-Oldsmobile dealer, licensed Real Estate Dealer and general contractor. As a general contractor, he built a luxury ski chalet for astronauts Gus Grissom and Gordon Cooper in Crested Butte, CO. He married Lila Dean Stratmann, originally of Ellsworth, Kansas.   The couple had one daughter, Terri Lee Gale (Williams). Later he was blessed with two granddaughters and a great grandson. In August 2003, Bill moved from Salina, KS to the Minnesota Veterans Home in Fergus Falls, to be near his daughter and grandchildren. He was a former member of the DAV and Elks in Salina, KS. He enjoyed music and playing musical instruments in which he was blessed with the gift of being able to play any instrument by ear. He spent many hours on the golf course, playing the game he loved.   Bill also loved fishing, painting and writing poetry. Preceding him in death were his parents; two brothers, Jack and Don Williams and a nephew, J.D. Williams. Survivors include his daughter, Terri (Rev. Lee) Gale of Grafton, ND; two granddaughters, Nicki (Christopher) Gale-Youngberg of Fergus Falls, Nanci (Mark) Gale-Wilson of Grafton, ND; great-grandson, Cooper Lee Wilson of Grafton, ND; two sister, Pat (John) Shaver of Salina, KS and Joby (Bob) Skeele of La Conner, WA. Also surviving are several nephews and nieces. A visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Olson Funeral Home with a public prayer service at 3:30 p.m. Burial will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Monday. Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of arrangements. The family would like to give a heartfelt thank you to the staff at the Minnesota Veterans Home for all of their loving and compassionate care they gave to Bill during his seven year stay. Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com