Theodore Will

Theodore Will, 83, Bismarck, died on Monday, Sept. 17, 2007, at his home surrounded by family after a four year courageous and inspiring battle with cancer, a battle he won in so many ways by living each day to its fullest.

Ted's funeral services are at 1 p.m. CDT on Monday, Sept. 24, 2007, at Bismarck Funeral Home with the Rev. JoAnne Moeller officiating.

Burial is in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Visitation is from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. today at Bismarck Funeral Home and continues from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Visitation continues from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday with a prayer service at 7 p.m.

Visitation continues from 10 a.m. until noon on Monday.

Ted was born to Henry Sr., and Sophia (Grenz) Will on Oct. 15, 1923, and raised on the Will family farm in Hazelton. He attended grade school in the rural Hazelton area, and attended junior and senior high school in Sydney, Mont., while serving in the Civilian Conservation Corps. Ted graduated from Hazelton High School in 1942.

After graduation, he went to sheet metal and riveting school in Minneapolis.

In 1943, Ted went to work building B-24's in Ypsilanti, Mich. In 1944, he joined the U.S. Army, training at Fort Hood, Texas.

He was with the fifth and ninth Replacement Depot.

In 1945, he transferred to the 86th Blackhawk Division and was promoted to sergeant major of the battalion. He received the Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), the Phillipine Liberation Service Medal, the Victory Medal, a Good Conduct Medal, a Riflemans Badge and a Bronze Star.

After his discharge from the service in December 1946, Ted worked for U.S. Steel, Sterling, Ill., where he married his high school sweetheart, Dolores "Dee" Fettig on Feb. 1, 1947.

They moved to Bismarck, where Ted was a salesman for Nash Finch until 1954.

In 1954, he began a career with Standard Oil as a territory manager, remaining in that position until his retirement in 1981.

Since retirement, Ted has been post commander of the VFW in Bismarck, and was the All-American Commander in 1984-85. He was president and director of the All Veterans Memorial, which was built on the North Dakota State Capitol grounds.

From 1987 to 1991, Ted was manager of the VFW Club in Bismarck. He is a lifetime member of the VFW, the National Civilian Conservation Corps Association, a member of the Elks, Moose, American Legion, Eagles and the Am Vets.

Ted has been president of the North Dakota Civilian Conservation Corps Chapter No. 106 for 17 of the past 23 years.

For the past two years, Ted's mission, along with many other CCC members, was the accomplishment of raising funds to place a CCC statue in North Dakota. On June 14, 2007, "The Worker" statue was placed and dedicated at the Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park south of Mandan.

Ted enjoyed barbecuing chicken, cooking knephla and homemade chicken noodle soup and canning spicy pickles for his children and grandchildren.

Ted and Dee rarely missed one of the many holiday and birthday celebrations with their growing family.

Ted was an avid fan of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings.

Ted and Dee celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Feb. 1, 2007.

Ted is survived by his wife Dolores, Bismarck; son, Randy (Sandi) Will, Bismarck; daughters, Sharol (Neil) Larson, Jamestown, Patricia (Bob) Townsend, Souix City, Iowa, and Linda Dutenhafer, Jamestown; 10 grandchildren, Jason Larson, Jill (Brent) Engbrecht, Janae (Todd) Juhlin, Shane (Cindy) Townsend, Tony (Jaime) Townsend, Tammy Townsend, Shiloh (Scott) Walch, Shayna, Shantel and Seth Dutenhafer, six great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Sophia, Molly, Tatum Aabrekke, Hayden Townsend and baby girl, Walch, due on great-grandpa Ted's 84th birthday; sister Alma Waranke; and brothers, Henry, Edwin, Johnny and Herb Will.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Sr. and Sophia; and three brothers, Oscar, Gottfried and Herman Will.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be given to St. Alexius hospice, 1120 E. Main St. Bismarck, N.D., 58501.

(Bismarck Funeral Home)