William "Bill" Eskildsen

William "Bill" M. Eskildsen, 82, passed away Tuesday, January 23, 2018, at Bethany Homes, Fargo, ND.

Born in Pekin, ND, April 27, 1935, to Walter and Mabel (Simonson) Eskildsen, Bill grew up in Pekin where he attended school and graduated valedictorian of his class in 1953. He participated in many activities, theater, band, choir, basketball and baseball. He later received a teaching degree from Mayville (ND) State College. He taught school for one year and then joined the United States Marine Corps, following his uncle Bill's service path. He proudly served from 1955 to 1959. "Once a Marine always a Marine."

On October 11, 1959, Bill was joined in marriage to Vernice Hovdenes, on her family's farm in Hamar, ND. They were married for 58 years having five children, nine grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

The couple loved to travel together. Over the years there were many vacations to visit close family as well as extended family. Bill loved spending time with his family. Fishing trips often became family picnics with cousins. Bill played softball, and later enjoyed being a spectator of a church league playing across from their apartment. It did not matter that he did not know the team members. He loved to cheer on the team and would get to to know them before the end of the season.

After retirement from American Crystal Sugar Company with 35 years of service, the couple chose to winter in Arizona. Bill made many lifelong friends doing the things he loved: fishing, bowling, softball and dancing. He was a long-time member of the VFW where he was a past commander and a member of the Color Guard, and an active member of the American Legion, Cooties and Marine Corp League. Supporting and honoring veterans of all branches of the military, he had thousands of volunteer hours at the Fargo VA Hospital.

He is survived by his wife, Vernice, Fargo; five children, Glenn (Shelley) Eskildsen, Santee, CA, Marsha (Keith) Anderson, West Fargo, ND, Connie (David) Jarrett, Moorhead, MN, Wesley Eskildsen, Moorhead, and Sandra (Steve) Otteson, Fargo; nine grandchildren, Ashley (Burt) Johnson, Deanna (Mike) Anderson, Lacey Anderson, Lisa (Kiryu) Randall, Oliver Eskildsen, Gregory Jarrett, Kaitlyn Jarrett, Karine Otteson, and Jessica Otteson; two great-grandchildren, Presley and Beckham Johnson; brothers, Richard (Denise) Eskildsen, and Marvin (Ida) Eskildsen; sisters-in-law, Michaelangela "Michie" Eskildsen, and Viola Hovdenes; brother-in-law, Vernon (Idell) Hovdenes; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Eskildsen. Sr. and Mabel Eskildsen; brother, Walter Eskildsen, Jr.; brother-in-law, James Hovdenes; nephew, Jason Eskildsen; and special cousin, Deloris Enstad.

Visitation for Bill will be Sunday, February 4, 2018, from 5 - 7 PM, with a prayer service at 7 PM, in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead.

Life Celebration Service will be Monday, February 5, 2018, at 2 PM, in Mavis Whiting Chapel of Bethany on University, Fargo.

Burial, with full military honors, will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Fargo, in the spring of this year.