George Bartholomew Obituary

George William (Bill) Bartholomew passed away on Good Friday, April 22. Bill went the distance in a battle that started with heart disease in 2008 and cancer in 2010. He fought the battle quietly and courageously, and his final days were spent with family and friends at his side in his Lemmon, S.D. home.

Bill was born to George and Bessie Bartholomew in Philip, S.D., on July 28, 1944. His family moved to Lemmon in 1946, and Bill attended St. Mary's Elementary School and Lemmon High School. Though small in stature, Bill was an outstanding, tenacious athlete and played basketball and baseball . He attended Forest Lawn Mortuary School to pursue a degree in mortuary science. Upon completion of these studies he helped Bud Hall Funeral Homes in Philip and Pierre, then moved to Alaska in 1966 to start his professional career. He later joined the Anchorage Borough Fire Department in 1969.

He was an avid outdoorsman and loved bow hunting, fishing, golf and baseball. Bill was also very active in the summer collegiate baseball programs in Alaska, and was past president and general manager of the Mat-Su Miners Baseball Club.

Bill married Liz Bell in 1970; Liz died unexpectedly in 2008 while attending to Bill during his recovery from heart surgery.

Bill retired from the Anchorage Fire Department in 1993 with the rank of captain and began splitting his time between Alaska and South Dakota, following the hunt seasons. After Liz's passing Bill became close to her widowed sister Lois, and she and Bill gradually became a couple. Lois was instrumental in getting Bill through his heart rehab and cancer treatments.

Bill is survived by Lois, and his three adult children, Wayne Bell, Brandon Bartholomew and Donna Roofe and 11 grandchildren. He is also survived by six brothers and four sisters.

Bill was very supportive of youth activities and in lieu of services would like memorial donations to be sent to Pheasants Forever 1783 Buerkle Cir. St. Paul, MN 55100 -- Grand River Chapter #746 -- youth hunt.

An online guestbook is available at www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Anchorage Daily News from May 8 to May 9, 2011.

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