1941
William
2008
William Purdy Jr
March 15, 1941 — August 21, 2008
William H. Purdy, Jr., 67, of Frazee, MN, died Thursday, August 21, 2008, at his home near Birchmere Resort on Little Toad Lake, surrounded by his loving family.
William Henry Purdy, Jr., was born on March 15, 1941, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was raised. He graduated from Northeast Missouri State University in 1964 and soon thereafter married Sandra Siefer, and they had three daughters together. He returned to the Philadelphia area when the girls were small and they made Glenside, Pennsylvania, their home. His second marriage took place in 1986, when he and Beatrice Benson Super, formerly of Waubun, were married at Lake Grove Lutheran Church in rural Waubun. In 1991, Bill and Bea retired from their respective jobs with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and Prudential Securities and returned to this area. They then purchased Birchmere Family Resort and Campground, Frazee, which they ran until their retirement in 2005. After retirement, they continued living near Little Toad Lake until his death on Thursday.
Bill was a bird watcher, lover of nature, and an environmental activist. As a private citizen and a member of the Little Toad Lake Association, he worked tirelessly at preserving lake water quality, not only on Little Toad Lake, but also throughout the region and at the state level. Bill was active in working with the MPCA, COLA, SWCD, DNR, and Clean Water Action. The fruits of his labors are indelible with many who shared his spirit of environmental stewardship. He also placed great value on the importance of tourism and the resort industry in the State of Minnesota, working with state and local government to preserve the industry.
Bill loved his country and displayed his sense of patriotism and pride in the USA at every opportunity. In recent years he and Bea traveled extensively in the Country he loved so dearly.
Preceded in death by his parents, Bill is survived by his wife Beatrice, three daughters, Stephanie (Matt) King of Berwick, PA, Patricia (Dave) Wallace of Austin, TX, and Elizabeth Hanson of Berwick, PA, their mother Sandra Purdy of Bloomsburg, PA, a step-son Christopher (Susan) Super of Pottstown, PA, a step-daughter Adrienne (Sid) Smith of Stonewall, LA, five grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, two sisters Vicki (Ray) Reinard and Joan (Joe) Daughen, both from Pennsylvania, and countless extended family and friends.
Bill was a member of Holy Rosary Church in Detroit Lakes and was a Fourth Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus. A viewing will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Detroit Lakes on Monday, August 25, 5-8 p.m., with a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 6:30 p.m. The visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at Lake Grove Lutheran Church on Tuesday. Because Bill and Bea were married at Lake Grove Lutheran Church in rural Waubun, Bill chose to be buried there. The funeral will be held on Tuesday, August 26, at 11:00 a.m. at Lake Grove Lutheran Church in Waubun, with Father Jerry Rogers officiating at the mass. All who knew, loved, and respected him are invited to attend. Memorials should be directed either to Hospice of Red River Valley or to either of the churches to which he was loyal.
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