William Martin Mitchell

William ”Bill” Mitchell , age 72, passed away on Dec 14, 2025 at Clarks Crossing, Wells, MN after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. A funeral service will be held 10:30 am on Tuesday, December 23 at Concordia Lutheran Church of Pickerel Lake, Albert Lea, MN. Visitation will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 pm on Monday, December 22, 2025 at Bayview Freeborn Funeral Home, Albert Lea, MN and one hour prior to the funeral service.

William Martin Mitchell was born on February 12, 1953 in Madelia, MN to Cyril Winston and Martha Joan (Haug) Mitchell. Bill graduated from Madelia High School in 1971. He then attended Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD earning a Bachelor’s Degree of Science – Biology in 1975. Following college Bill worked for a short time with the Watonwan Soil and Water Conservation. However, Bill spent most of his life working as a carpenter, laborer, and custodian. He was excellent at building and repairing many things, working for various cabinet shops, construction companies, and concrete manufacturers throughout his adult life. Bill worked as a custodian until his retirement. While working as the school custodian in the Lindstrom, MN area, he studied to be a certified pool operator to assist in the care of the school pool.

On August 16th, 1980 Bill married Kristi Renee Nesterud. In their 45 years of marriage they called a variety places home, including Waverly, IA; the Chisago City/Lindstrom, MN area; Fulda, MN; Vasa/Welch, MN area; Waseca, MN; and Alden, MN. In April of 1991, their son Jared Nathaniel Mitchell was born and was instantly the joy of his life. Bill even spent two years at home as a stay-at-home-dad caring for Jared when he was a toddler. He was a dedicated dad for sure!

Bill spent time volunteering as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader, a bus driver for an adult day care program, various churches and as a sponsor for AA. Bill remained sober for 39 years. He faithfully lived – one day at a time. In recent years he was a member of the Alden Lions Club and Redeemer Lutheran Church. Bill loved being outside, in all kinds of weather – skiing the mountains of Colorado or any local ski hill; canoeing the boundary waters, Minnesota lakes or rivers; taking the boat out to fish just about anywhere; braving the cold to go ice fishing; camping from coast to coast in state parks and national wildlife areas; cross country skiing through farmlands and woods; attending music concerts in the great outdoors; hiking the trails; riding his bike; or watching the stars by a beautiful campfire.

Music was something else that Bill deeply enjoyed. Although he was a “rock and roller”, Bill appreciated all kinds of music. Singing a joyful noise to the Lord and snapping those fingers or clapping those hands to a “just-off-the-beat” rhythm always made his family and friends smile. He also enjoyed playing table games, going to the movies, attending plays, cheering on local sports teams, and watching game shows and comedies. He was a social person who liked to visit with people, laugh, tell jokes, and enjoy a practical joke every now and then. The most valuable thing to Bill however was his relationships with family and friends. These were his greatest treasures, especially each moment he shared with his sweet grandson Lucas Adam Mitchell.

This faithful, kind and generous man is survived by his wife Kristi; son Jared (Alyssa) Mitchell; grandson Lucas Adam Mitchell; sisters-in-law Trudy Johnson, Cathy Kietzer, and Dawn Wickner; brothers-in-law Guy (Joyce) Hennager and Neil Roberts; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Bill is preceded in death by his parents Winston and Martha Mitchell; son Lucas Allen Mitchell; sister Nancy (Mitchell) Roberts; brothers-in-law Duane Johnson and Myron Kietzer, parents-in-law Marvin and Wanda Nesterud; and many other dear relatives.

Thank you to the health care teams of St. Croix Hospice and Clarks Crossing of Wells for their excellent care of Bill.

The service was live-streamed, and can be watched below, or from the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home YouTube page at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfYD8zoiKxE