Willard "Bill, Will, Big Bill" NORTH

1923 - 2022

Of Lakeville Passed away peacefully April 12, 2022 after an amazing 99 years. Bill was preceded in death by his best friend, coney partner and wife of 63 years, Miss Ginny. He is survived by his children Patti (Rollie) Johnson, Gina (Dan) Case, Terry (Kathy) North and Mike North, granddaughters Sammy (Josh), Jackie (Brad) and Lexie (Jack), grandsons Nick (Josi), Derek, Matt (Anna) and Andy, great granddaughter Taylor, great grandsons Colton, Sawyer and Eli. His smile, laugh and kindness will be missed by many. Born March 3, 1923 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Bill's life was a true American success story. Born of humble means in La Crosse he attended, on scholarship, and graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas where his strong Catholic faith was formed. He went on to serve his country in World War 2. After the war, he used the GI Bill to attend and graduate from The University of Wisconsin Madison. It was there he encountered the glamorous Virginia Miller. After a whirlwind romance they were forever wedded. Bill was a teacher, coach, salesman, a brewery representative, a distributor sales manager and finally, an owner of a small Hamm's beer distributorship in South St. Paul which he grew to include Miller Brewing Co. products and moved the distributorship to Lakeville in 1976. He sold his business in 1984 and retired to Arizona only to move back to Lakeville. Bill loved Ginny more than life itself and has missed her dearly for the past 7+ years. He was a wonderful athlete who continued to work out daily even to the end. He was a snazzy dresser, who enjoyed family (especially the grandkids), friends, golf, books, coneys, and hanging out with people everywhere, including his extended family at Highview Hills. Thank you to the staff at North Memorial Hospital for the extraordinary care during his final days, the staff at Highview Hills for the sense of family they create, to the breakfast crew at Celts for keeping him involved and All Saints Catholic Church for the inner peace that he received from their outreach program. Bill's service will be held Friday, April 22 at 11:30 AM with visitation starting at 10:30 AM at All Saints Church in Lakeville. A private burial will be held after the service.