Irene Ackerman

Obituary

Edwin Will, 88, of Linton, ND, died September 10, 2010 at the Baptist Home, Bismarck. Funeral services will be held at 10:30am Monday, September 13, 2010 at Peace Lutheran Church, Linton with the Reverend Fred Henkelmann officiating. Burial will be in the Linton Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 11:00am to 9:00pm at the Myers Funeral Home, Linton with a prayer service at 7:00pm.

Edwin Will was born on December 7, 1921 in Emmons County, the son of Henry and Sophia (Grenz) Will. He was raised and educated in the Hazelton area. During his school years, he spent several summers helping his uncle Bill Will of Hazelton on the farm. When he turned 17, he went to Montana and worked in the sugar beet fields. In 1939 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and remained with them until 1942.

Edwin was sworn into the United States Army on December 7, 1942. He served in WWII, receiving an honorable discharge on February 25, 1946. While serving in the army, he served in infantry basic, gun crewman, and heavy artillery, where he became a Corporal and General Carpentry. He was a member of the Battery A, 545th Battalion,. He served in Hawaii and the Philippines. Edwin earned several medals, including the Good Conduct Medal, Philippines Liberation medal with one bronze service star, victory medal, American theater service Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific service medal. After Edwin was discharged from the Army, he met his lifelong sweetheart, Irene Ackerman.

Edwin and Irene were married on March 16, 1950 in Bismarck, ND. They made their first home southwest of Hazelton. Edwin and Irene purchased the Adolph Kist place north of Linton, where they farmed until retiring in 1981. Edwin and Irene remained living on the farm and their sons, Carlyle and Lelyn took over farming.

Edwin served on several boards throughout his lifetime. He served on the Bek Telephone Board from 1976-1991, the Liberty View District 3-6 years and the Hazelton Farmers Union Elevator for 3 years. He was a life member of the VFW and the Disabled American Veterans. He was also a member of the American Legion.

Edwin is survived by his wife of 60 years, Irene of Bismarck, ND; three sons and daughters-in-law: Carlyle and Linda of Bismarck, ND, Lelyn and Debbie of Bismarck, ND and Bernell of Linton; five grandchildren: Travis (Meghan) and Jason (Stacey) all of Bismarck, ND, Carla (Robin) Ouren of Fargo, ND, Ryan (Amy) of Bismarck, ND and Jesse of North Hollywood, CA; two step grandchildren: Cathy (Paul) Breiner of Flasher, ND and Kelly Surgenor of Bismarck, ND; five great grandchildren: Braden, Tristan, Holden, Oakley and Avery Will, all of Bismarck, ND; five step great grandchildren, Ty Kraft, Amethyst and Saggara Breiner and London Surgenor and Meika Kelly all of Bismarck, ND; three brothers and sisters-in-law: Henry of Hazelton, ND, Johnnie and Betty of Santa Rosa, CA, Herb and Carlene of Boise, ID and one sister and brother-in-law: Alma and Don Waranke of White Salmon, WA. He was preceded in death by his parents, and four brothers: Oscar, Godfred, Herman and Ted.

Irene Will, 88, Bismarck, formerly of Linton, died March 24, 2011, at a Bismarck care center. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, at Peace Lutheran Church, Linton, with the Rev. Fred Henkelmann officiating. Burial will be in the spring at Linton Cemetery.

There will be a prayer service at 4 p.m. today at Myers Funeral Home, Linton, with visitation continuing from 5 to 9 p.m. Visitation will also be held on Monday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

Irene was born April 22, 1922, on a farm in Emmons County, the daughter of David and Rosina (Wohl) Ackerman. She was raised in Linton, attending country schools and graduating from Linton High School in 1940. After graduation, Irene took exams and became a certified teacher. She taught school for five years. She taught at a country school northwest of Linton and then at a country school five miles east of Linton off Highway 13. In the evenings, after school, Irene worked at JC Penney's Store in Linton as a sales clerk and then moving up to a cashier.

On March 16, 1950, Irene married Edwin Will in
Bismarck. They made their first home southwest of Hazelton. Edwin and Irene purchased the Adolph Kist place north of Linton, where they farmed until retiring in 1981. Edwin and Irene remained living on the farm, while their sons, Lelyn and Carlisle took over farming. Edwin died Sept. 10, 2010. Irene continued to live in Bismarck until her death.

She is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Carlyle and Linda Will, Bismarck, Lelyn and Debbie Will, Bismarck, and Bernell Will, Linton; five grandchildren, Travis (Meghan) and Jason (Stacy), all of Bismarck, Carla (Robin) Ouren, Fargo, Ryan (Amy), Bismarck, and Jesse, North Hollywood, Calif.; two step-grandchildren, Cathy (Paul) Breiner, Flasher, and Kelly Surgenor, Bismarck; five great-grandchildren, Braden, Tristan, Holden, Oakley and Avery Will, all of Bismarck; five step-great-grandchildren, Ty Kraft, Amethyst and Saggara Breiner, London Surgenor and Meika Kelly, all of Bismarck; one sister, Esther Job, Bismarck; one brother, Johnny Ackerman, Linton; and one sister-in-law, Viola Ackerman, Bismarck.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edwin, in September 2010; three brothers, Theophil, Ruben and Richard; and one sister, Alma Trautman.