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William M. Fruhwirth

William M. Fruhwirth

William Mathais Fruhwirth, 87, of Grand Forks, ND passed away peacefully Saturday, November 11, 2017, in Valley Eldercare Center, Grand Forks, surrounded by his loving family.

Bill was born on September 6, 1930 on the family farm in Sykeston, ND the son of Michael and Teresa (Labor) Fruhwirth. He attended a one room school house in Sykeston until he moved to Carrington, ND to finish his education. Bill was the first in his family to graduate from high school (1948) where he loved competing in sports while playing basketball and football. Upon graduation he worked in the local community until he enrolled in the Air Force in 1950. After completing his four years of service Bill traveled to California to work in the oil fields. After a year he decided to take advantage of the GI bill and enrolled at the University of North Dakota in 1956. He graduated in 1959 with a degree in US History and Government.

While in college he met the love of his life, Gloria Berglund at the Gopher/Antique Bar in East Grand Forks and they were married on February 2, 1957 at St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center. They welcomed their 1st son Greg in 1958 and upon graduation they moved to Flaxton, ND where he started his 20 year teaching and basketball coaching career. Bill and Gloria resided in Flaxton from 59-63 where their son Brian was born in 1960. They moved to Drake in '63 and they welcomed their first daughter, Karen. They resided in Parshall, ND from '64-'69 and Fertile, MN from '69-'70 where their 2nd daughter Gloriann was born. They moved to Fessenden, ND in 1970 and Bill's final stop in his education career begin in 1974 in Larimore and concluded in 1979.

His career coaching record was 351-151 and included 7 state appearances. The first was Flaxton in '63, Parshall in 1965 and 1966, Fessenden '72, and Larimore in '75,'78 and 1979. Bill's highlights include: a 4th place finish in '63, 5th in '79, a 2nd place in 75, and was capped in 1978 with his only State Championship with a 72-57 win over Belfield. He was inducted into the ND Coaches Hall of Fame in 2008.

Bill entered private sector in 1979 with his purchase of the Larimore Insurance Agency and upon his retirement, Bill and Gloria moved to Grand Forks in the fall of 2000. Bill was an avid Fighting Sioux fan for 40 plus years and you would find him cheering on his beloved Sioux at every sporting event.

Bill is survived by sons, Greg (Barb) of North Platte, NE and Brian (Denise) of Overland Park, KS; daughters, Karen (Dean) Jorgenson and Gloriann (Todd) Trottier both of Fargo, ND; five grandchildren Brittany, Michael, Justin, Dillon and Collin; great grandchildren, Gavin and Grahm. He leaves behinds his sister, Mary Fornshell of Bismarck, ND and his personal friend Donna; a sister-in-law, Elaine (Mrs. John) Fruhwirth of Huntington Beach, CA.

He was preceded in death by wife, Gloria; brothers, Alfred, John and Ken; sister in law, Bonnie (Mrs. Ken) Fruhwirth and brother in law, Jim Fornshell.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:00 am Thursday, November 16, 2017 at Holy Family Catholic Church, Grand Forks, ND.

Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday with a 4:30 p.m. rosary and 7:00 p.m. vigil service in the Historic Norman Funeral Home - Gregory J. Norman Funeral Chapel. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the liturgy in the church on Thursday.

Military Honors: Accorded by members of the American Legion Post 157, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3817 and the Grand Forks Air Force Base Honor Guard.

Burial: 3:00 p.m. Thursday in the Carrington Cemetery, Carrington, ND.

The online memorial registry may be signed at www.normanfuneral.com

(The Historic Norman Funeral Home, Grand Forks, ND)