William "Bill" Birchem

William "Bill" Birchem, 76, Rosholt, SD, passed away Tuesday, January 26, 2016, at the Northeast Care and Rehabilitation Center in Rosholt.
Funeral Mass will be Monday, February 1, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in Rosholt with Father Jerome Ranek and Father Stanley Wieser officiating. Music will be provided by organist Lana Sand.
Burial will be in the St. Nicholas Cemetery, rural Rosholt. Honorary urn bearers will be all of Bill's grandchildren. Active urn bearers will be grandchildren Jessica Peterson and Marshall Ryg.
Visitation will be Sunday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt.
William Matthew Birchem was born October 10, 1939, on the family farm in rural Hankinson, ND, to George and Eleanor (Harrington) Birchem. He was baptized at St. John's Catholic Church in Rosholt and was confirmed at St. Philip's Catholic Church in Hankinson, ND. One of seven children, Bill attended school at Green Dale Township Country School, Richland County, ND.
On July 30, 1960, Bill married Adeline Meyer at St. Philip's Catholic Church in Hankinson. The couple together had four children and resided in rural Hankinson and the Fairmount area before settling in Rosholt, SD. Bill worked on the farm north of Rosholt and was a crane operator for Burlington Northern Railroad from 1970 to 1974. Bill was an avid business owner and was famous for his bullhead fish frys at Rock Island Resort on Lake Traverse and Billy's Fireside in Rosholt.
Bill had many joys in life such as working on the farm, carpentry, and caring for livestock. He especially enjoyed raising, training and riding horses. Bill was always quick to make a joke and loved to socialize with anyone and everyone who had a story to tell.
Survivors include his wife Adeline of Rosholt; four children, Jody (Janet) Birchem of Stirum, ND, Jackie (Randy) Kubitz of Dent, MN, Jeff (Johna) Birchem of Riceville, IA, and Julie Birchem of Fargo, ND; grandchildren, Jessica (Timothy) Peterson, Jason Birchem, Marshall (Gina) Ryg, Nick Ryg, Samantha (Caleb) Lehse, Jacob Birchem, Jeremy Birchem, Justin Birchem, Jared Birchem, Heather Buckhouse, Emily (Greg) Larson, and Katie Buckhouse; great-grandchildren, Nathan, Tristen, Aria, Skylar, Carson, Liam, Adleigh, and Mason; sister, Cecelia (Bob) McElwain of Minneapolis, MN; brother, Kenny Birchem of Hankinson; and many nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Kelly, who helped him with his animals.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, George and Eleanor; brothers, Leander "Pike" and James Birchem; and sisters, Laura Richard and Georgiana Gabel.

"Different Jokes for Different Folks"