William L. Dugstad

Aug. 25, 1924  -  Jan. 30, 2016   , age 91 of Willmar, died Saturday morning, January 30, at the Emmanuel Home in Litchfield.               Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 4, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar.  Interment will be at the Emden Christian Reformed Cemetery near Renville.  Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, February 3, at Tri-County Funeral Home in Prinsburg and one hour prior to the service at the church.   Bill was born August 25, 1924 in Spring Valley, Minnesota to John and Ida (Ruud) Dugstad.  He grew up in Spring Valley and later the family moved to Eagle Bend, Minnesota where he helped his father on the farm.  Bill served his country during World War II in the European Theater in the infantry.  Upon discharge in 1946 he moved to Willmar where he met his wife, Janet Ryks where both worked at Willmar Poultry.  Bill and Janet made their home in Willmar where they lived until 1960 when they moved to New Hope, Minnesota where Bill drove freight truck.  In 1968 the family returned to Willmar when William started working for Duininck Brother Construction as a truck driver. In 1988, he retired and started a lawn care and snow removal business in the Willmar area also driving sugar beet truck in the fall.  He loved fishing and hunting and drinking his coffee with his friends down at Frieda’s Café.  In his spare time he loved listening to his polka music, watching westerns, feeding his birds and squirrels, and spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Bill is survived by his wife: Janet (Ryks) Dugstad; his daughters: Sharon Brennan of Cottage Grove and Nancy Dugstad of Willmar; his son: Greg Dugstad (and special friend Jill Flaten) of Willmar; his sister: Freda Shonk of Denver; brother-in-law: William Ryks Sr., of Willmar; his grandchildren: Doug Watson, Stephanie (and Matt) Newman, Erica Ellestad, Jennifer Ryan (and significant other Bob Maleska), Alicia (and Tim) Hitzler, Stephen (and Tonya) Dugstad, and Sara Hoffman; step-grandchildren: Jeremy ( and Kelly) Brennan and Heather (and Steve) Hawkins; great-grandchildren: Luke, Jacob, and David Newman; Averi and Kadyn Ellestad; Levi and Abie Volkenant; Ava and Amara Hitzler; Dylan O’Brien, Brandon Cunningham and Jordan Dugstad; Taylor and Dallas Hoffman; Lily, Ava and Alec Brennan and Molly and Meaghan Hawkins; friends of the family: Nancy Norsteen and Aaron and Jarred Maleska; and other loving relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents: John and Ida Dugstad; brothers: Harlan, Irwin, David and Donald Dugstad; sisters: Alva Clothier, June Hayden, Charlotte Jackson and Mary Ann Bartelme; granddaughter: Adriannah Hitzler; son-in-law: Timothy Brennan and grandson-in-law, Shawn Hoffman.  

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