Willie J. Truesdell, 65, Moorhead, MN, passed away on Wed., May 22, 2013, in Sanford Health, Fargo, ND.
Willie was born at home in Lisbon, ND, on August 21, 1947, to Willie N. and Annie (Schriener) Truesdell. He attended St. Aloysius Parochial School for eight years and then graduated from Lisbon High School in 1966. During his high school years, he worked every morning and afternoon for his Uncle John & Aunt Vivian "Babe" Truesdell. This afforded him nice cars. Willie always said, 'You have a lot of friends until your car breaks down!'
After graduation, Willie worked for Melroe Manufacturing, for over a year and then joined the U.S. Army in 1967. He married Iris Zimmerman and then went to Viet Nam, in Oct. 1968. He was in Vietnam during two Tet Offensives and awarded the Purple Heart, a Bronze Star with an Oak Leaf Cluster, a Bronze Star with the 'V' for Valor, and two Air Medals.
Upon his discharge in 1970, Willie returned to Melroe Manufacturing. In 1972, he moved to Fargo to attend NDSU, for 2 years. He then took a job with the U.S. Postal service, where he worked as a letter carrier and retired after 30 years of dedicated service. He was married to Donna Roering on April 3, 1999.
Willie was an avid reader and a huge movie buff. He was a long time member of the American Legion and AMVETS.
Willie is survived by his wife of 14 years, Donna Lee; a daughter, Katherine Truesdell; granddaughters, Astacia and Makayla Truesdell; his extended family of Mother-in-law-in-chief, Rosemary; Iris Truesdell, and Alan and Dale Zimmerman; all of his Schriener uncles; his best friend since childhood, Mike Wiederholdt; sister-in-law, Susan Truesdell; and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Charles; and very dear uncles & aunts.
There are no services planned.