Dr. William Rieder
October 28, 1934 ~ August 23, 2023
Born in:
Williston, North Dakota
Resided in:
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Dr. William Gary (Bill) Rieder, October 28, 1934 passed away peacefully on August 23, 2023. He was born and raised in Williston, North Dakota as a farm kid. He attended the ND Agricultural College after high school where he majored in mechanical engineering. He worked for Phillips Petroleum until he was offered a position at the prestigious Battelle Research Institute in Columbus, Ohio where he worked on an early experimental nuclear reactor. It was there that he met his wife Corinne (Corky) Adams. They were married on June 2, 1962. After earning his master’s degree from the University of Ohio, they moved back to North Dakota to teach at NDSU.
After a few years (and with two children) he decided to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Nebraska. After two years, they returned to Fargo where he taught mechanical engineering for over 30 years. He published regularly including a textbook on computer modeling which was used in the curriculum at NDSU and is still available from Amazon today.
After retiring in 1999, Bill built a house on a lake near Vergas, MN and his hobbies were building things for the property, tinkering with the lawn tractors, and watching his grandchildren. Bill and Corky enjoyed 47 years of loving partnership until her death in 2009.
An avid reader, he subscribed to many publications pertaining to science, history, automobiles, and other subjects. He was also a generous donor to numerous causes. His closest companion for the last few years was Chief, a dog who was always present no matter where Bill was or what he was doing.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Corky and his sister, Mary Vennes. He is survived by his son Dr. W. Dow Rieder, Fargo; daughter, Elizabeth (& Scott) Lowell, Fargo; brother, Andrew Rieder, Nashua, MN; granddaughters, Fallon, and Addison Lowell, and numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be a memorial service at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 2, at Boulger Funeral home in Fargo, ND. Visitation will begin at 1:00. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to a cause of which he often spoke: the St. Joseph’s Indian school.
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Services
Memorial Service - Saturday: September 2, 2023 2:00 pm
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street S.
Fargo, North Dakota 58103
701-237-6441
www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
Visitation - Saturday: September 2, 2023 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street S.
Fargo, North Dakota 58103
701-237-6441
www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
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I very much enjoyed having Dr. Rieder as one of my NDSU mechanical engineering professors back in the late seventies.
I was a stranger in a strange land in 1988. Doc and Mrs. R. gave me a place at their holiday table and friendship ever after. I miss them both.
I was a stranger in a strange land in 1988. Doc and Mrs. R. gave me a place at their holiday table and friendship ever after. I miss them both
I just found a card from your Dad to my Dad, Don Gronbeck. I googled his name and was sorry to read of his passing earlier this year. Although, I didn’t know your Dad, I do know he and your Mom had a special relationship with my Dad since they were in school and then throughout their lifetime. Your Dad reached out to me in late 2019 to track down my Dad (who was in assisted living in Utah near me) and we had a lovely conversation. What a kind man! No doubt our parents are having a grand time reminiscing in heaven.