119 Third Street Southwest ~ Rugby, North Dakota ~ 58368-1797
Chapel of the Cross ~ Towner, North Dakota
Jon M. Stork - President / Licensed Director

Phone: 701.776.6381 ~ 701.537.5130
Fax: 701.776.5916
email: afhrugbytowner@gondtc.com


 

William "Bill" Duane Domres

William Duane. ‘Bill’ Domres, the son of William L. and Erna (Sperling) Domres was born on December 7, 1930 in Dresden, North Dakota.  He died at the age of 83 years on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at Trinity Medical Center in Minot after complications with heart surgery.

Bill was raised and educated in Dresden until attending high school in Langdon where he graduated in 1948. Following high school, he began his career in the newspaper business, working at the Cavalier County Republican in Langdon under the guidance of Dick Forkner and Ed Franta, where he worked until 1955. Bill began work at the Walsh County Record for Rilie Morgan and his son Jack.  He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Lillian Washabek on January 17, 1957 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. They lived happily together for the past 58 years.  His career led him to ownership of the Cavalier Chronicle in 1957, partnering with Jack Morgan and Ted Schrader.  In 1965, Bill and Lillian purchased the Mouse River Farmers Press in Towner from a farmer owned corporation run by Fern Lee. They also owned Gross Printing Company in Minot, the Velva Journal, Oakes Times and the Ellendale Leader.  The family also built a centralized printing plant for the newspapers in 1980.  The family business was sold in 1992 to Kelly Publishing.  The couple remained working for the company until 2006.  They continued to do printing until Bill’s death.  He was honored in 2000, being inducted to the North Dakota Newspaper Association 50 year club.

Bill served on many boards throughout his life, 18 years on the Towner City Commission, 12 as Mayor and President of the Towner Chamber of Commerce.  He was instrumental in establishing Towner Economic Development Corporation, serving many years on the board. Throughout the years he received many awards in his community including 4-H, FFA, US Forestry Service, Business Advisory Council ‘Business Man of the Year’, Towner Jaycee Distinguished Service Award, Governor’s Leadership Award and many other various organizations.  Bill had a passion for flying and owned several airplanes throughout his life.  His 1959 Mooney airplane (owned by the Towner Flying Club), is now displayed at the Dakota Territory Air Museum in Minot.  Bill will always be remembered for his love for his family, his smile, kindness to others, hard work and humor that would brighten the darkest day.

Bill is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lillian of Towner; his son, Roger (Sherry) of Bismarck; daughter, Kim (Mike) Schulz of Mound, MN; grandchildren, Rilie (Nicci) Domres of Minot; Ryan Domres of Fargo, Luke Domres of Bismarck, Amanda (Schulz) Jake Seys of Watertown, MN, and Jeremy Schulz of Mound, MN; great grandchild, Masen Domres of Minot; sisters, Lavelda Waslaski of Park River, Shirley (Mark) Jennings of Billings, MT; brother Delbert (Linda) Domres of Williston; nieces, nephews; other relatives and many friends.  He was preceded in death by a sister, Arlene Goschke; a brother, Robert Domres; and his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 23, 2014 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Towner, ND.  At his request he has bequeathed his body to the University of North Dakota School of Medicine for research.  Pastor Linda Wimmer, Officiating.

There will be no visitation or reviewal will be held prior to the services.


 


Posted Condolences:

Lillian, Roger, Kim, and family, Our thoughts are with you and praying God will comfort you and give you strength. May your memories bring you peace.
Sincerely, Vernon Sperling, and family.


My condolences to Lillian and her family. I got the privilege of working side by side with Bill for 10 years at the newspaper in Towner. It was never a dull moment there and I will truly miss that and him as well.
Justin Green


Dear Lillian and family: My sympathy to all of you. I started in the back end of the Republican even before the Dresden kids joined my class (Bob was a classmate) so Bill was the first of the family I knew. He worked with Art Miller and I think a couple of Lillian's brothers composing ads. Art could not speak but he could read lips and let his wishes be known by writing lots and lots of notes! Am sure over the years Bill learned to read his mind. It was a fun crew to work with and yes, I was also introduced to Rilie Morgan and his poetry at a young age. There are lots of great memories.
Sincerely, Rita Maisel


Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this time.
Doug & LaRae Jorgenson


Dear Lillian,
I'm sorry to hear of Bill's passing. I've thought of you and Bill often since I left the Mouse River Journal. I worked there for four years with the two of you, and everything I know about the newspaper business was learned with the two of you guiding me. Even now, as I show newcomers to the newspaper business how to set ads, I can hear Bill gently and patiently guiding me and explaining to me why things need to be done a certain way. I look back on my years there with such good memories. Bill's dry sense of humor could bring a laugh to all of us even on the busiest of days. My thoughts are with you, Lillian.
Ethel (Farley) Erickson


Dear Lillian, Kim and Roger, I'm very sorry to hear of Bill's passing. He was always kind to me when I was growing up, and Lillian, I thought you and he brought a bit of glamour to Towner all those years ago! I hope all your happy memories will sustain you through this time of sorrow.
Patty Deplazes

 


Send Condolences by Completing this Section:

Date Sent:

*Posts are not immediate.  Condolences are reviewed by a staff member prior to posting to ensure proper use of the site.
*Email addresses will not be available to the public.

 

"Quality Care with Quiet Dignity Since 1921"
 
©2012 Anderson Funeral Homes, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Site designed and hosted by NDTC.