William Ross

William Henry Ross (Bii dwe wi dam- Thunder in a distance coming toward you) ,76, of Cass Lake, Minnesota died Tuesday July 17, 2007 at Meadowlands Elder Care near Tenstrike, Minnesota.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 23, 2007 at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji with services conducted by the Reverends Harold EagleBull, George Ross, Doyle Turner and John Rock. Visitation will be held 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., Sunday, July 22 at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Pine Grove Cemetery, Cass Lake, MN. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home of Bemidji.

William Henry Ross was born May 18, 1931 in Naytahwaush, MN to Selam and Adeline (Bunker) Ross. When he was young his family moved to Inger, MN, and then to Cass Lake. William graduated from Cass Lake High School in 1950, and he attended St. Paul Bible College in St. Paul. In 1952 he married Muriel Phelps. They subsequently lived in Cass Lake, Belcourt, ND, and Red Lake, MN with their six children. William worked with the BIA Roads Department starting in 1955. He also worked for the Indian Health Service Sanitation Operations and Maintenance Department, retiring in 1986. Carolyn Kay and William were married in 1976 in Bemidji. William enjoyed woodworking, carpentry, hunting and ricing. He liked making syrup, golfing, bowling, and watching sports. He also enjoyed drawing, cooking and spending time with family and friends.

William is survived by his wife Carolyn of Cass Lake; sons Dave (Sue Hamre) Ross, Cass Lake, Jon Ross, Walker, MN, and Henry (Cari Tabor) Ross, Cass Lake; daughters Ramona (Tom) Fletcher, Orlando, FL, Patti (Rudy) Thomas, Buckland, AL, and Priscilla Ross, Cass Lake; sister Ruby (Simon "Tutor") Beaulieu, Minneapolis, MN; 18 grandchildren and six great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Gloria Eyler and Ruth Ross; daughter Gloria Joy Pearsall and son Billy Lee Ross.

Pall Bearers will be Travis Ross, Henry Ross, Bradley Beaulieu, Jon Beaulieu, Richard Freeman, and Joe Lausche. Honorary Pall Bearers are Ed Cadwell, Dean Blue, Simon Beaulieu, Doug Jackson, Andrew Talevson, Jerry Fagerstrom, John Foley, Vince Keahna and Arlem Bryngelson.