Thief River Falls – William John Bulger, 87, Thief River Falls, died peacefully on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015 at Villa St. Vincent in Crookston with his loving family at his side.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Thief River Falls with Father Rick Lambert presiding. Burial will be held at St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Thief River Falls. Military honors will be provided by the American Legion Ecklund-Holmstrom Post 117 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2793.
Visitation will begin at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. A rosary will be recited at noon.
William John Bulger was born Nov. 1, 1927 in Grand Forks, N.D., the son of Alfred William and Laura Caroline (Matton) Bulger. He was baptized and confirmed into the Catholic faith. William grew up on a farm near Stephen. He attended Stephen High School and completed his final year at the Agricultural College in Crookston, graduating in 1945.
William worked at S and S Implement in Stephen from 1945-50, and on Sept. 21, 1950 entered into service with the United States Army in Fargo, N,D. He was assigned duty with 1st Battalion, 129th Infantry Regiment with the 44th Infantry Division and attained the rank of Private First Class. William was decorated with the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars and was honorably discharged on June 20, 1952.
On Jan. 30, 1954, William was united in marriage to Joyce Marie Parent at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Argyle. This union was blessed with nine children: an infant daughter, Greg, Tim, Lori, Polly, Jenny, Barb, Patricia and Mary.
William worked at S and S Implement as a truck driver from 1952-56; Western Oil & Fuel as a truck driver in Thief River Falls from 1956-61; and worked as for the SooLine Railroad as a brakeman from 1961-88, retiring in 1988.
William enjoyed hunting, going to the cabin near Williams and fishing at Lake of the Woods. He especially loved spending time with his family.
William is survived by his wife, Joyce of Thief River Falls; children: Greg Bulger of St. Hilaire, Tim (Lana) Bulger of Thief River Falls, Lori (Dan) Johnson of Thief River Falls, Polly (Bryan) Olson of Frazee, Jenny (Dale) Langevin of Thief River Falls, Barb (Gary) Nelson of Thief River Falls and Mary (Ralph) Matter of Thief River Falls; grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Angella (Mark) Hibbard [Peyton and Paxton] of Andover, Stacy Czapiewski [Cole and Mikayla] of Blaine, Brad (Erin) Bulger [Blaine] of Grand Forks, N.D., Nichole (Allen Holt) Bulger [Brady, Olivia, (Parker)] of Red Lake Falls, John Bulger of Thief River Falls, Patrick (Lyndee Evavold) Johnson of Moorhead, Thomas (Brittney) Johnson [Isaak and Ty] of East Grand Forks, Cayler (Lyndsey) Olson [Kira and Madison] of Harwood, N.D., Beth (Firat) Kezer of Grand Forks, N.D., Michael (Erica Erickson) Langevin of Thief River Falls, Ashley (Aaron) Baird of Red Lake Falls, Jacob Langevin of Thief River Falls, Nicholas (Alexis) Nelson [Elijah] of Grand Forks, N.D., Casey (Erick) Trontvet [Lydia and Jed] of Thief River Falls, Christopher (Allison) Matter [Alexa] of Thief River Falls, Sarah (Eric Soleim) Matter of Raleigh, N.C., Samuel Matter of Thief River Falls, and Grace Matter of Thief River Falls.
Preceded in death by daughter Patricia Bulger and an infant daughter; daughter-in-law Diane Bulger; siblings: Vivian Gerhardt and Gerald Bulger; parents and grandparents.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com.