William "Bill" Cherp

William "Bill" Cherp, age 83, of Ivanhoe, MN passed away on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at the Hendricks Community Hospital Nursing Home in Hendricks, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Wednesday, August 27th at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Ivanhoe, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery in Ivanhoe, MN. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel of Hendricks, MN has been entrusted with the arrangements.
William (Bill) Torry Cherp was born on November 4, 1941, in Tyler, Minnesota to Harry and Ferne (Madoll) Cherp. He was a 1959 graduate of Ivanhoe High School. After graduation he went to work as a Technician for the Remington Rand Corporation in Minneapolis. In 1961 he married Diane Janssen of Ivanhoe at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis and together they had four children.
In 1964, with his wife and family in tow, they moved to Brookings, South Dakota and he enrolled at South Dakota State University where, in the winter of 1969, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering. His 25-year professional career was spent working for the Soil Conservation Service as an Area Engineer in Ivanhoe and Rochester and as a Regional Manager in St. Peter, Minnesota.
In 1995 he accepted the U.S. Government's offer of early retirement and ended his professional career. This gave him the opportunity to chase his lifelong ambition to continue the farming legacy his father had started years earlier. Bill's fondest memories were, as a kid, working alongside his dad on the farm and the various businesses he owned. It was working alongside his dad where Bill developed his deep commitment to hard work, trustworthiness, friendship and community.
Bill wasn't all work and no play, he loved to have fun, especially with his grandchildren, often setting aside an endless list of tasks to play, teach or just talk with them to hear what they had been doing at school, in sports, etc. He had a sharp wit that kept everyone on their toes and laughing along with him. Bill was an avid hunter and fisherman and had a passion for conservation and land preservation which took him on several journeys, many with his son Mike, to their favorite destination, the mountains of the Western United States. He especially enjoyed meeting people along the way and would strike up a conversation with anyone he'd meet. He was a good listener and was genuinely interested in people's stories. He made people feel comfortable being around him.
Bill was a member of Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the NRA.
Survivors include his four children: Peggy (Mitch) Rasmussen, Mike (Stacey) Cherp, Jane (Mike) Schwarz and Tom Cherp; seven grandchildren: Luke(Alana) Rasmussen, Shane Rasmussen, Kyle (Mandy) Rasmussen, McKinlee Cherp, Jacquelyn, Josslyn and Justin Schwarz; five great-grandchildren; two sisters: Mary (John) Milionis and Marlene (Bryan) Stenslund and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one brother, John Cherp and one sister, Harriet Smishek.