William Henri Ferryman Jr

It is with loving hearts that the family of William “Bill” Henri Ferryman Jr., 88, announce his death on November 26, 2023. Bill died peacefully surrounded by his loving family at Ecumen’s Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes, MN.

Bill was born in Havre, Montana on September 17, 1935, to William Henri and Gladys Jeannette (Fee) Ferryman. He was an only child. He was raised in Spokane and Ballard, WA, and attended the Episcopal church. He graduated from Ballard High School in 1953 and then attended the University of Washington where he graduated in 1957 with a degree in Civil Engineering. During Bill’s college years he was a member of the ROTC and upon graduation from college, he served in the United States Army in Fort Eustis, VA and Fort Lewis, WA.

On December 29, 1962, Bill married Susan Anne Evenson in Moorhead, MN, and they shared 60 years of marriage together. They have two children Ann Kathryn “Katie” (1965) and David William Ferryman (1970.)

Bill became intrigued with railroading when he was young, and his fascination never ceased as he became a third-generation railroader. He always loved the railroad and was grateful for the good life it provided for him and his family. Bill’s railroading career spanned 36 years, all with the same company. His career began in 1954 when he worked summers during college for the Great Northern Railroad. His time with the Great Northern Railroad took him to Whitefish, MT; Spokane, WA; Klamath Falls, OR; Seattle, WA; Shelby, MT; Grand Forks, N.D.; Fergus Falls, MN; Superior, WI; and Great Falls, MT.  At the merger of the Burlington Northern Railroad (BN) in 1970, he moved to Billings, MT, as the Regional Maintenance Engineer.  In 1973, Bill was promoted to Asst Chief Engineer of the Colorado & Southern Railroad, in Denver, CO. In 1976 he moved to Casper, WY, where he oversaw the construction of BN’s 127-mile Orin Subdivision rail line into the Powder River Basin of Wyoming; the longest railroad line built in the nation since 1932. Once completed Bill returned to Denver as BN’s Chief Engineer of the Denver Region. In 1990 he retired. Bill was always proud that his son, David; son-in-law, Guy; and grandson, Cole all went to work in the railroad industry. In his later years, he loved talking “railroad” and mentoring his family of railroaders.

After retirement Bill and his wife Susan enjoyed living in Colorado, Texas, and Minnesota, traveling, and spending 33 summers at their lake home on Big Floyd Lake in Detroit Lakes, MN. Bill loved model trains, collecting coins, and tinkering with clocks and radios.  Bill was a generous man with a kind heart and soft spot for pets. Bill was a member of Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, El Zagel Shrine Organization, Great Northern Railway Historical Society, American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association. Bill served on the Board of Roadmaster’s and Maintenance of Way Association and in 1976 was named to Who’s Who in Colorado.

He is survived by his wife, Susan of Detroit Lakes, MN; his two children, Katie Goar (Guy) and David Ferryman (Angie); four grandchildren, Cole Andrew Goar, William Carter Ferryman, Molly Kate Goar and Braeden David Ferryman and his beloved dog, Lily. His daughter Katie graciously spent much of the last weeks of his life by his side.

Spending time with family was important to Bill and his greatest joy was seeing all his grandchildren graduate from college and go on to do things they enjoyed. Bill wrote, “When you have a lot of people in your life who love you; you have a good life.”

There will be a private family gathering. In lieu of flowers, please donate in memory of Bill Ferryman to the Shriners Hospitals for Children in the memory of Bill Ferryman at the following link:

https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/inMemoryofBillFerryman