William Davis "Bill" Noun

William Davis "Bill" Noun ObituaryWilliam Davis Noun of Shorewood, MN, passed away on Sunday, August 31, 2025. Born Wong Bok Non on January 19, 1933, in Guangdong Province, China, William arrived in America in 1940 at age seven and built an extraordinary life and family filled with love, laughter, and achievement.
Bill settled in Austin, Minnesota, where he transformed from a boy who spoke no English into a remarkable high school leader. He served as class president for three years, was a multi-sport athlete who helped win a football state title and sang in the school choir. After graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1956 with a degree in Journalism, he served proudly as a commissioned U.S. Air Force officer until 1960. Becoming a U.S. citizen in 1968 was among his proudest moments.
One of Minneapolis' original "Mad Men" in the 1960s, Bill built a successful career in advertising at Campbell Mithun before transitioning to printing sales at the Bureau of Engraving. Throughout his life, he cultivated many lifelong friendships, stayed actively involved in his community, pursued his talents as an artist, and maintained a passion for sports of all kinds. Above all these accomplishments, Bill's greatest joy was his 62-year marriage to Ruth Ann Hardesty. They married on November 2, 1963, and built a beautiful family together.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife Ruth; son Stuart (Katy) and grandchildren Teddy and Maggie; son JJ and grandchild Nicolas; daughter Missy Bemm (Larry) and grandchildren Oliver, Eliza, and Harper. Brother Wayman Wong (Jeannie), Brother Pok-Kwan Wong (Soomei), Sister Ding Jong Wong (Chuck Fon Ma, deceased), cousins Elaine Wong Gayley (Joe), Maxine Wong Curtis (Lynn, deceased), and many nieces and nephews.
Special thank you to Bill's caregivers, Soraya, Tina, Heidi, and the rest of the team at Assisting Hands and Park Nicollet Hospice.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, September 8, at 11:00 AM at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 301 County Road 19, Excelsior, MN 55331. Visitation will begin one hour before the service at 10:00 AM. A luncheon will follow the service. He will be laid to rest at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.
In place of flowers, the family invites memorial contributions to be made in memory of Bill Noun in support of the David A. Dunshee Medical School Scholarship Fund #13736 at the University of Minnesota Foundation. Please make checks payable to the University of Minnesota Foundation, P.O. Box 860266, Minneapolis, MN 55486-0266, or you may contribute online at https://z.umn.edu/Dunshee
Huber Funeral & Cremation Services
Excelsior Chapel 952-474-9595
William Davis Noun of Shorewood, MN, passed away on Sunday, August 31, 2025. Born Wong Bok Non on January 19, 1933, in Guangdong Province, China, William arrived in America in 1940 at age seven and built an extraordinary life and family filled with love, laughter, and achievement.
Bill settled in Austin, Minnesota, where he tran