Willis E. ’Bill’ Raethz

Willis E. "Bill" Raethz, 82, Moorhead, MN, died on Friday, February 03, 2012, in Sanford Health Palliative Care, Fargo, ND.Bill was born on May 15, 1929, to Karl and Ada Rueter Raethz of Cresbard, SD, on the family farm that he loved, where he grew up and attended school. He served in the U.S. Air Force. He loved music and played many instruments, he and his brothers were in many bands. Bill married Emeline Lehmann on April 12, 1952. For most of his life, Bill was a professional over the road owner-operator driver. He also owned and operated at truck brokerage firm with two of his daughters in Fargo. In later years, he drove locally for a time before retiring to live north of Lake Park, and then in Detroit Lakes before moving to Moorhead.He is survived by his son Robert Raethz, West Fargo, ND; daughters Beverly Tim Steinberg, Watertown, SD, Deborah Robert Novack, Oak Harbor, WA, and Bonnie Mark Scobey, Glyndon, MN; sister Pat Schaible, Redfield, SD; eight grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers Alvin, Jack and Ken; three sisters Beverly, Marge and Esther; and the mother of their four children Emeline Lehmann Raethz.Robert, Debbie, Bonnie and Bev would like to thanks everyone for their prayers, support and love during our difficult time, God bless you all. We would also like to extend a very special thank you to the staff at the Sanford Health Palliative Care Unit.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Alzheimer's Association of Minnesota, 4550 W 77th Street #200, Edina, MN 55435-5025.