- Date Of Birth: July 22, 1922
- Date Of Death: January 27, 2013
- State: Minnesota
William “Bill” Robert Morrill, 90, of Bemidji, Minn., and formerly of Laporte, Minn., died Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013.
Bill was born July 22, 1922, to Robert and Gladys Morrill, the second of five children born at the family homestead along the Kabekona River near Benedict.
Bill grew up hunting, fishing and trapping around the Benedict area. He was an artist at catching mink, otters and beaver. The trap lines he ran with his younger brother went for several miles and took them through most of the Paul Bunyan State Forest.
He was also a champion horseshoe player and went to the state finals a few times. He also loved to spear and net fish.
Bill was a millwright by trade, an occupation that took him around the Midwest. Some of the jobs he worked on included Hoover Dam, a nuclear plant in Hastings and the Iron Range, as well as mines in the Dakotas and Wyoming.
Bill also loved to ride his motorcycle, dance and play pool. The “happier” he got, the better he played!
Up until the time he had to move to an Alzheimer’s care facility, he would get out every day and walk, sometimes for miles. He loved the outdoors and loved to walk.
Bill is survived by his three sons, Patrick Allen Morrill, of Brewton Ala., Lester Jay Morrill and his wife Suzy of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. and Michael Anthony Morrill and his wife Faye of Chancellor, Ala.; daughter-in-law Myra R. Morrill of Ozark, Ala., stepdaughter Marlis Benedix of Benedict; brother Irving Morrill and his wife Peggy of Port Orange, Fla.; sisters Gladys “Honey” Scott of Bemidji and Lorna Gardlin of Duluth; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Emma Annette Morrill; son, Lex Robert Morrill Sr.; and brother, Dana Boardman Morrill.
