Willard 'Bill' Freeman

On March 17, 1921, William and Lillie Freeman celebrated St Patrick’s Day in rural Louriston Township, MN by birthing their first child, Willard Edward Lyle Freeman. Even though the family was not Irish, the event was cause for celebration! Willard was eventually joined by two brothers (Loyal and Gordon) and four sisters (Betty, Donna, Joanne, and Doris). Lillie loved music and was an accomplished piano and organ player. An upright piano sat in the corner of the farmhouse, and the piano seat was full of sheet music. Willard started violin lessons at an early age and spent time around the piano playing and singing with his mother and siblings. Swedish was the primary language spoken at home so Willard had to learn English before starting school. He walked or rode in a wagon to rural school three miles down the road. He described the one-room school’s winter hot-lunch program – each child brought a potato to school to put on the edge of the potbellied stove when they arrived. By lunch time, the potato was baked - particularly well on one side because the children were not allowed to leave their desks to turn their spuds! Willard earned his eighth grade public school diploma from District 36 on June 27, 1934. Willard enjoyed life on the farm even if the house did not have running water and water had to be hauled in buckets from the pump on the edge of the field across the road. His mother was a magician with a cob-burning stove and there was always something baking in the oven or simmering in the back deepwell burner.
When he was 17 years old, Bill spotted a dark-haired beauty at a local dance. On October 9, 1939, Pastor John Mason married Willard and his lovely bride, Mary Pauline Smith. A year later when Mary went in to labor with their first child, Carol Ann, she had to sit on the step of the hospital while Bill's father brought in a load of corn to sell so the hospital bill could be paid in advance. Five more children arrived (Willard Lyle (Skip), Larry Wayne, Sandra Kay, Patricia Mary, and Michael Allen) and made this a large and often boisterous family. Bill supported his family by working as a lineman for the MN Valley Rural Electric Cooperative in Montevideo. He left for work early each morning with a large black lunchbox and a tall grey thermos in hand. When winter blizzards hit, he was sometimes gone for 2 to 3 days at a time. Bill worked hard with his crew of linemen, advanced to Line Superintendent, and then moved up to General Manager. In his spare time, Willard enjoyed working on his home, frying hamburgers, and baking angelfood cakes with slightly-burned tops. When his boys were young, he started volunteering as a Boy Scout leader for Troop 288 at Salem Lutheran Church. He remained active as a scoutmaster over many years and attended several National Boy Scout Jamborees. He touched the lives of hundreds of boys as he instructed them in lifesaving and survival skills. He instructed many scouts in canoe paddling and tip-over exits in the shallow water of a lake and never told anyone that he didn’t know how to swim. The Viking Council honored him with the coveted Silver Beaver leadership award and the church honored him with prestigious Lamb leadership award. Bill treasured his friendships with the REC staff and his Scouting associates his entire life.
Bill’s love of camping expanded to include his family. The kids joined him first in tent camping. When he purchased a pop-up camper, Mary joined the excursions. Campcooking, tinfoil dinners and campfires were the highlights of many trips to State parks and up the North Shore. When he retired, Bill and Mary purchased a large motorhome. They joined the Good Sam Club and enjoyed many excursions with this group of friends. When son Skip moved to the Oregon coast, several trips were made cross country to see his family and camp by the ocean. Willard was “in his element” behind the wheel of the coach – he enjoyed a sense of adventure and looked forward to seeing new places and meeting new people.
Throughout his life, Willard was a devoted family man. His wife, his six children, his grandchildren, and his great grandchildren were the center of his life. He had a generous spirit and huge noble heart that was full of love and caring for everyone he came in contact with. He was an honorable man, a hard worker who was respected by his peers, appreciated by his scouts, adored by his family and loved by his God. His 93 years of life were devoted to serving and helping others. Those of us who were fortunate to have him in our lives will miss his sweet loving presence. A star that shined on earth is now glowing in the heavens. His memory will live on in the hearts of many – we were blessed to have had him in our lives. We look forward to seeing him again in eternity.
Cherishing Bill's memory are his children and their families:Skip & Donna of Montevideo,Larry & Susie of Deephaven, Sandy & Doug Hodge of Montevideo, and Patricia West & Martha of Minneapolis.
He was preceded by his parents, his wife Mary, daughter Carol, son Michael, brother Loyal, sisters Betty Fuller & Donna Eckman, daughter-in-law Avis, step grandson Jon Lanphear and companion Lorraine Tubbs.