William John Bulger of Thief River Falls, MN age 87 died peacefully on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at Villa St. Vincent in Crookston, MN with his loving family at his side. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 PM on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Father Rick Lambert presiding. Burial will be held at St. Bernard's Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN. Military honors will be provided by the American Legion Ecklund-Holmstrom Post #117 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2793. Visitation will begin at noon on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at St. Bernard's Catholic Church. A rosary will be recited at Noon. William John Bulger was born on November 1, 1927 in Grand Forks, ND the son of Alfred William and Laura Caroline (Matton) Bulger. He was baptized and confirmed into the Catholic faith. William grew up on a farm near Stephen, Minnesota. He attended Stephen High School and completed his final year at the Agricultural College in Crookston, MN, graduating in 1945. William worked at S and S Implement in Stephen, MN from 1945-1950 and on September 21, 1950 entered into service with the United States Army in Fargo, ND. He was assigned duty with 1st Battalion, 129th Infantry Regiment with the 44th Infantry Division and attained the rank of Private First Class. William was decorated with the Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars and was Honorably Discharged on June 20, 1952. On January 30, 1954, William was united in marriage to Joyce Marie Parent at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Argyle, MN. This union was blessed with nine children: an infant daughter, Greg, Tim, Lori, Polly, Jenny, Barb, Patricia, and Mary. William worked at S and S Implement as a truck driver from 1952 - 1956; Western Oil & Fuel as a truck driver in Thief River Falls from 1956 - 1961; and worked for the SooLine Railroad as a brakeman from 1961 - 1988, retiring in 1988. Bill enjoyed hunting, going to the cabin near Williams, MN, fishing at Lake Of The Woods and he especially loved spending time with his family. Survived by wife, Joyce of Thief River Falls; children: Greg Bulger of St. Hilaire, MN, Tim (Lana) Bulger of Thief River Falls, MN, Lori (Dan) Johnson of Thief River Falls, MN, Polly (Bryan) Olson of Frazee, MN, Jenny (Dale) Langevin of Thief River Falls, MN, Barb (Gary) Nelson of Thief River Falls, MN and Mary (Ralph) Matter of Thief River Falls, MN; grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Angella (Mark) Hibbard [Peyton and Paxton] of Andover, MN, Stacy Czapiewski [Cole & Mikayla] of Blaine, MN, Brad (Erin) Bulger [Blaine] of Grand Forks, ND, Nichole (Allen Holt) Bulger [Brady, Olivia, (Parker)] of Red Lake Falls, MN, John Bulger of Thief River Falls, MN, Patrick (Lyndee Evavold) Johnson of Moorhead, MN, Thomas (Brittney) Johnson [Isaak & Ty] of East Grand Forks, MN, Cayler (Lyndsey) Olson [Kira & Madison] of Harwood, ND, Beth (Firat) Kezer of Grand Forks, ND, Michael (Erica Erickson) Langevin of Thief River Falls, MN, Ashley (Aaron) Baird of Red Lake Falls, MN, Jacob Langevin of Thief River Falls, MN, Nicholas (Alexis) Nelson [Elijah] of Grand Forks, ND, Casey (Erick) Trontvet [Lydia & Jed] of Thief River Falls, MN, Christopher (Allison) Matter [Alexa] of Thief River Falls, MN, Sarah (Eric Soleim) Matter of Raleigh, NC, Samuel Matter of Thief River Falls, MN and Grace Matter of Thief River Falls, MN. Preceded in death by daughter, Patricia Bulger and an infant daughter; daughter-in-law Diane Bulger; siblings: Vivian Gerhardt and Gerald Bulger; parents and grandparents.