Wilbert George "Bill" DeBilt, 79, Rural Berthold died on Wednesday, May 14, 2008.

Wilbert was born on March 18, 1929 on the family farm in Passport Township of Ward County near Berthold, ND to George and Ruth (Varnes) DeBilt. He was raised on the family farm and attended Passport Township School prior to graduating from Berthold High School in 1947. As a young adult he assisted his father with the operation of the family farm. Bill entered the U.S.Army in 1951 and served until his honorable discharge in 1953. Bill married Thelma Larson on June 27, 1951 in Berthold. They made their home in North Carolina where Bill was stationed with the Army. Following his discharge they returned to North Dakota and settled on the family farm where he farmed with his dad. Bill started flying in 1955 and did aerial crop spraying for many years. In addition, he was a U.S. Postal Rural Mail Carrier for 30 years.

Bill was a member of Zion Lutheran Church - Berthold and the Berthold Development Corporation and was a past president and clerk of the Passport Township Board. During his life, Bill enjoyed trapping, hunting, fishing, golfing, bowling, family lake outings and vacations, but his passions were his family and flying. He was an avid pilot until the day he died.

Bill's loving family includes his wife of 57 years, Thelma; children: Laurie (Gary) Gathman, Susan (Roger) Finke, Michael (Cindy) DeBilt, Julie (Rod) Deaver, Jill (Jeff) Brown, Bruce (Annette) DeBilt all of Berthold, Linda (John) Rittberger of Hermosa, SD and Tim (Diane) DeBilt of Quinhagak, Alaska; grandchildren: Brad and Bill Gathman, Amy Neshem, Kara Peterson, ReNee Jasmer, Jared, Melanie and Dustin Rittberger, Heather Neshem, Todd Finke, Summer Engelhard, Annette Nielson, Eric, Dan and Chris DeBilt, Bonnie Schepp, Cheri and Ross Deaver, Marie and Sara Brown, Zane, Cameron and Matt DeBilt; great grandchildren: Molly, Grant and Garrett Gathman, Emily, Erika and Mya Neshem, Jaden, Dawson and Jamison Neshem, Carter Finke, Isabel and Gus Engelhard, Kailee Nielson, Kaitlyn and Carissa DeBilt, Aubree Schepp and Ella Brown; sisters: Margaret Trondson of Sun Lakes, AZ; Eleanor Pietsch of Minot; Dorothy (Bob) Roise of Fairfield Glade, TN; and Verna (Lowell) Skabo of Colorado Springs, CO; brother-in-law: Ken Linster of Bend, OR; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Maridell Linster, brother-in-law, Carl Trondson and nephew, Gary Pietsch.

Funeral Service: Monday, May 19, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. in Zion Lutheran Church - Berthold.
Interment will be in Wildrose Cemetery - Berthold.
Visitation: Sunday from noon until 5:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Memorials are preferred.