William Drake

William L. Drake, 67 of Horace, ND died Monday, April 20, 2009 at the Palliative Care Unit of MeritCare Hospital in Fargo. Bill was born on June 25, 1941 in Fargo to Sam and Etta (Kent) Drake. The family lived in Casselton and West Fargo, where Bill attended school. He served in the US Army from 1958 to 1961. On September 15, 1962, Bill married Delores Tessier at St. Benedict?s Catholic Church in Wild Rice, ND. He worked for Siouxland Dress Beef in West Fargo before moving to St. Paul, MN. They returned to Fargo-Moorhead where they owned the Georgetown Bar and where Bill also worked for Asplin Excavating. Bill then worked in transportation as an owner-operator for Waymore Transportation. Bill enjoyed fishing but the real joy of his life was his 3 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Sam; sisters, Marion Banks, Joanne Ohnstad and Maxine Wateland; step-father, Pete Thiessen and step-brother, Stanley Thiessen. Bill is survived by his wife, Delores of Horace; son, William Drake, Jr. of Horace; daughter, Deborah Mellem of Wyndmere, ND; grandchildren, Samantha, Mikayla, Kolten Mellem; mother, Etta Thiessen of Fargo; brother, Gerald (Janet) Drake of Seattle, WA; sisters, Frances (Enoch) Jenner of West Fargo, Betty (Daniel) Olmstead of West Fargo; step-brothers, Roger and Larry Thiessen; step-sisters, Sharon and Beverly Thiessen and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation: Wednesday, April 22 from 5-7 pm at Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo. Prayer Service: Wednesday at 7:00 pm at the funeral home. Memorial Mass : Thursday, April 23 at 11:00 am at St. Benedict?s Catholic Church, Wild Rice, ND. Arrangements entrusted to Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo.