William Jesperson

Funeral Mass for William C. ?Bill? Jesperson, 89 of Willard, MT will be 11:00 a. m. Wednesday, July 12, 2006 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Ekalaka, MT with Father Thomas Tobin celebrating. Burial will be in the family lot in the Beaver Lodge Cemetery at Ekalaka, MT. Visitation will be 5:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church with a Rosary at 7:00 p. m. at the Church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Stevenson Funeral Home of Ekalaka, MT. Bill passed away Sunday, July 9, 2006 at Dahl Memorial Health Care Nursing Home. Bill was born February 28, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois to Christian ?Chris? and Julia (Sanders) Jesperson. As there was no hospital in Baker at the time, Julia traveled by train to Chicago to stay with a friend until Bill was born. He grew up on the family ranch southeast of Willard, MT, attending schools in Baker, MT where he graduated in 1935. After graduation, Bill attended MSU in Bozeman, MT for a year and a half. In his mid-twenties, he entered the United State Air Force serving in WWII. He belonged to the 492nd Airborne Division. This elite group joined the 801st Airborne Division who performed secret operations called ?Carpetbaggers?. They flew black painted aircraft dropping agents and supplies to the French Underground. Bill was part of the group that was referred to as ?the best of the best?. All of their missions were flown during the dark of night and at very low altitudes. While in the service, Bill refined his boxing skills that he had learned back home. His love for the sport continued long after his discharge; reffing local matches in the Ekalaka area. It was during his years in the Air Force that Bill found a ?special lady? whom he eventually brought back to the Ranch after a year and a half of writing letters back and forth. On November 10, 1946, Bill married the love of his life, Ingrid Magnusson of Stockholm, Sweden. As newlyweds, Bill and Ingrid moved to Fargo, ND where he attended a mechanic school. The two eventually returned to the ranch at Willard where they raised their five children. Bill was one of the last to make the transition from horses to a tractor. Bill served on the Fallon County Election Board for many years in the Willard Precinct, and was a member of the American Legion upon his Honorable Discharge. Bill and Ingrid loved to square dance, and even traveled to Canada to square dance. They instilled into their children, the value to deal with whatever came their way in life; deal with the problem, fix it and do not walk away from it. Bill enjoyed his way of life on the ranch, but his real love was for his wife of 59 years, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His wife Ingrid, of Ekalaka, MT; three sons, Robert (Sylvia) Jesperson, Denver, CO; Kenneth (Becky) Jesperson, Ekalaka, MT and Keith Jesperson of Billings, MT; one daughter Ruth (Bill) Hamman of Hartford, KS; 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren survive him. His parents, his sister, Emily Ella Jesperson; a son, Donald Jesperson and his granddaughter, Joan Jesperson preceded him in death. The family requests memorials be made to the charity of their choice in Bill?s name.


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Burial Date: July 12, 2006
Funeral Home Baker, MT

Funeral Mass: Wednesday: St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, Ekalaka,