William Mathieu, 68, died Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at Northwest Medical Center, Thief River Falls, MN.


Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Monday, February 26, 2007, at Zion Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls, MN with Reverend Gary Johnson officiating. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery, Thief River Falls.

Visitation will be 2 " 5 PM, Sunday, February 25, 2007 at Johnson Funeral service, Thief River Falls, with a 4:30 PM prayer service and for one hour prior to service at the church, Monday.

William Charles Mathieu was born February 22, 1938 in Thief River Falls, MN, the son of Milton and Arneida (Peters) Mathieu. He was baptized at the United Methodist Church. He attended Knox Elementary and Lincoln High School. He entered the National Guard on February 6, 1957. He was honorably discharged from the Guard on February 5, 1960.

On July 20, 1958, William was united in marriage to Lorriane Rux. When he was young, he worked part time at the Red Owl store before he became interested in mechanics. He started work at Forkenbrock Motors, Thief River Falls, at a young age. He also worked in Mahnomen, MN for a short time. They moved back to Thief River Falls in December of 1958. He went back to work for Forkenbrock Motors. He also worked for Bud Manning at Thief River Falls Motors and for Bernie Elseth. In 1966, he purchased the station from Bernie, then known as Bills Mileage. In 1973, he bought the old Wennberg building and opened up Bills Service until he retired in 2002 for health reasons. He sold the building in 2006.

You can always find Lorraine and him camping at Lake Bronson State Park or Bemis Hill with family. He also enjoyed wood-working, restoring old furniture and doing scratch offs. He enjoyed his grandchildren, especially the babies.

Survived by wife of 49 years, Lorraine, Thief River Falls, MN; daughter: Cindy (Keith) Swanson, Thief River Falls, MN; sons: Mitch Mathieu and Jay (Lila) Mathieu all of Thief River Falls, MN; daughter: Brenda Tuffy (Steve) Haats, Warroad, MN; grandchildren: Kristen (Josh) Granly, Meghan (fianc, Eric) Semrud, Ryan Semrud, CharLee Mathieu, Guthery Mathieu, Kory Corky and Stephanie Haats; great grandchildren: Alex, Tony, Avery and Nevaeh; mother: Arneida, Minnetonka, MN; brothers: Ronnie (special friend, Geri), Canyon City, CO, Kenny (Lori), Pueblo, CO, Don (Penny), Minnetonka, MN, Allen (Suzie), St. Louis, MO and David (Stella), Lakeville, MN; brother-in-law: Jerold (Bev) Rux, Strandquist, MN; sister-in-law: Eleanor (Jim) Halverson, Karlstad, MN. Also survived by one uncle, one aunt, many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends, Duane and Joyce Larson.

He is preceded in death by father, Milton; mother-in-law, Mildred Rux; paternal grandparents; maternal grandparents and many aunts and uncles.

ORGANIST: Ida Nordvall
SPECIAL MUSIC: Greg Dally
SELECTIONS: Why Me , Go Rest High on That Mountain and One Day at a Time
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art
CASKETBEARERS: David Rux, Bryan Cloutier, Art Hinrichs, Jim Fisher, David Larson and Jerome Skjerping
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: Duane and Joyce Larson, grandchildren and great grandchildren