William Robert Collins III

William R. Collins, III William R. Collins, known to many as Billy, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2025, in Naples, Florida surrounded by his family and special team of caregivers.

Bill was born to William and Marie (Newman) Collins on March 10th, 1946, in Bemidji, MN. He grew up in Fargo, ND and attended Saint Anthony School in Fargo and graduated from Shanley High School in 1964 where he met the love of his life, Mary Pat Swanick. Bill and Mary Pat were married on June 15, 1968, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Fargo, ND. Bill and Mary Pat enjoyed a beautiful life together raising two boys in Fargo before moving to Edina, MN in 1986. They also enjoyed summers at their lake cottage on Pelican Lake for 53 years.

Bill began his career in the highway construction business with William Collins & Sons, a company started by his grandfather. He worked alongside his father, uncles, and cousins building roads in North Dakota, Minnesota and Montana. It was a true family business. Bill always looked back fondly on those days and enjoyed reminiscing about building highways in the 1950's with his family. Bill went out on his own in 1975 and built a career as a life-long entrepreneur in the construction industry. He continued to work with his Father and ultimately his 2 sons. Bill believed in self-determination, hard work and taking risks, but most importantly he believed in those who he worked with. Every employee was a relationship he appreciated, especially the equipment operators and truck drivers.

Bill cultivated many lifelong friendships from childhood and all the way through his adult life. He became a golfer later in life and he really enjoyed the time he spent with his friends and the friendly competition on the course. His smiling eyes and sense of humor will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William and Marie Collins, his sisters Jeannie Weiler, Claudia Murphy and Mary Ellen O'Toole. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary Pat, sons Rob and Travis, daughter-in-law Virginia, and grandchildren Katherine, Caroline and William.

A celebration of life will be held this summer at their home on Pelican Lake.