William Elmer Brunsdale

William’s service will be livestreamed and viewable below starting at 6:00p.m. Friday, September 19, 2025:

William Elmer Brunsdale, 91, of Fargo, entered his eternal resting place on Sunday, September 14, 2025, with his daughters, Barbara and Karen, by his side.

Funeral services will be at Boulger Funeral Home on Friday, September 19, at 6pm with visitation beginning at 5:00.

William was born on February 17, 1934, in Mayville, ND, to George Elmer and Mellie (Solberg) Brunsdale. He was confirmed at Mayville Lutheran Church in 1949 and graduated from Mayville High School in 1952. He graduated with a 4-year teaching degree in Social Studies Education from Mayville State University in 1956. When William and Shirley married, Shirley was already teaching in the Fargo Schools. Fargo Schools did not employ married couples at that point; they then ventured into Minnesota to teach. They taught at Mahnomen, MN, from fall of 1957 until their retirement in 1991. During that time, William taught Social Studies and started the girls’ and boys’ high school tennis programs, winning girls’ regional team championships in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, and 1988. He and Shirley had numerous boys’ and girls’ individual regional winners.

William met the love of his life, Shirley Fugleberg, in the first grade. They were lifelong partners in many adventures. William and Shirley married at Mayville Lutheran Church on June 17, 1956. They moved to Mahnomen in 1957 and created a loving home to bring their children, Karen and Barbara, into. They were devoted parents following their children’s activities in school and church. Education was important to Will and Shirley, making sure their “girls” could attend college and beyond. They also considered creating family memories very important through travel, taking the family on vacations to the East and West Coasts, national parks, Hawaii, and Europe.

William and Shirley truly enjoyed a long and fun-filled retirement. They traveled extensively to Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, and throughout the United States. They enjoyed 26 wonderful years at their home in AZ together and at the family lake home. Both were joyful gathering places for William and Shirley, their daughters and grandchildren. William sorely missed Shirley when she passed away in January of 2023. His daughters kept him busy with multiple trips to Ohio to visit Barb and family, a trip to Hawaii with extended family, and a winter in AZ with Karen and Rod, his son-in-law. In May of 2024, William became ill and entered SMP St. Catherine’s North (Rosewood on Broadway). The family will be forever grateful for the excellent care he received as a resident.

He is survived by their daughters, Karen (Rodney) Hardie of Fargo, ND and Barbara (John) Wells of Hilliard, Ohio; grandchildren: Ilissa, Evan, and Elizabeth Hardie of Fargo, ND; John Jr. (Deborah), Jacob, and Jared Wells of Hilliard, Ohio; and Yasmine Wells of Fargo, ND. Nephews and nieces: Frederick (Lori) Coleman of Phoenix, AZ, Mark Coleman of Erskine, MN, Janet Fauglid of Portland, OR, Carol Johnson of Denver, CO, Beth Fugleberg (Ron Qual) of Jamestown, John (Shawn) Fugleberg, of Woodbury, MN, Jeff Fugleberg (Ryun Brunson) of Provincetown, MA, Leslie Lynch of Winter Park, FL, Kerry Barr of Maitland, FL, and Doug(Carol) Fugleberg of Tampa, FL. Brother-in-law Lyle (Charley Ann) Fugleberg of Winter Park, FL.

Preceding William in death are his wife, Shirley, parents, brother Wayne Brunsdale, and sisters Beverly Fauglid and Kathryn Coleman.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to First Lutheran Church or SMP St. Catherines North.

Video Tribute: