Wilson Roy

LIFE HISTORY OF WILSON EUGENE ROY
Wilson E. Roy, age 97 longtime funeral director in Osakis, passed away Monday, September 8, 2008 at the Community Memorial Home in Osakis, where he'd been recovering from a recent stroke.
On June 5, 1911 Joseph Wilson Eugene Roy was born in Crookston, MN, the only child of proud parents, Eugene and Alice (Handy) Roy. He lived in Crookston as a youth and then moved to St. Cloud and graduated from Tech High School in 1929. He received his degree from the University of Minnesota Mortuary Science program and began a life long devotion to funeral service. His first job was in Crookston as a director for the Houske Funeral Home. After his marriage to Ann Venatra and a move to California, Bill returned to Minnesota after the loss of his wife and unborn son. While living and working in Minneapolis Bill met a beautiful brunette named Mary Garceau and married her on Dec. 9, 1943 before his induction into the U S Army during WWII. He served his country as a medical lab technician, based out of Ft. Warren, Wyoming. After his honorable discharge in 1946, Bill returned to funeral service as a manager for the McDivitt-Hauge Funeral Homes in Minneapolis. In 1956, Bill and Mary moved to Osakis when they purchased the Larson Funeral Home and Osakis Furniture Store from Sherman and Sarah Larson. They owned and operated these two businesses for over 25 years. For years Bill was also on call seven days a week as the community's only ambulance driver, back when the funeral home's hearse doubled as the local ambulance.
Bill was a member of the Immaculate Conception parish, the Osakis Chamber, Osakis Country Club and the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association. In 1981 he closed the furniture store and sold the funeral home to his son-in-law, Dana Hetland. Bill took great pride in being a funeral director and stayed active in funeral service well into his eighties.
When he was not at the furniture store, working funerals or fielding ambulance calls, Bill enjoyed being out on the lake fishing or relaxing with his family at his cabin on Lake Osakis. He was also an avid bird hunter, who made yearly trips to North Dakota hunting duck and geese. Playing cribbage, going on family trips, scrapbooking, shaking dice with the morning cafe crew or trying out new recipes were other things that made him happy. He appreciated good food and enjoyed cooking. He could spend hours shopping for the right gourmet sauces and spices. Bill's greatest joy however was being center of attention during the many family gatherings and holidays.
Bill is survived by his children, Nancy (Herb) Balk of Alexandria, Bobbi (Bob) Mendenhall of Thompson Falls, MT, Kathy (Steve) Loranger of Osakis, Mary Alice (Clifton) Peterson of Walker, MN, Ginger (Dana) Hetland of Osakis and Lori (Jim) Quistorff of Sauk Centre, MN; 23 grandchildren; 13 great, grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, wives, two infant sons and three grandchildren, Mary Loranger, Samuel Quistorff and Darren Hetland.
A Mass of Resurrection was held for Bill on Monday, September 15 at 10:30 am at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Osakis with Fr. Ralph Zimmerman officiating. Interment was at the Calvary Cemetery in Osakis with military honors provided by the Osakis VFW Post #7902. Pallbearers were his six son-laws and his daughter, Nancy Balk.
Memorials prefered to the St. Agnes School or the Calvary Cemetery Fund, c/o Immaculate Conception Church, P O Box F,Osakis, MN 56360.
Arrangements were proudly handled by the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home in Osakis, MN.