William Utke passed away on Thursday, August 26, 2021 in Decorah, IA.

Visitation with the family present will begin at 10 am with a funeral service starting at 11 am on Monday, August 30, 2021, at the Miller Southside Chapel, 7400 South Minnesota Avenue – Sioux Falls, SD.

Memories and condolences may be shared by using the Guestbook link located on this page.

William Dallas Utke was the youngest of eleven children born to Wilhelm and Wilhelmina (Fritz) Utke on August 16, 1926 in Enderlin, ND. He was baptized on September 19, 1926 at the Pontiac Township Lutheran Church (ND) and confirmed on May 19, 1940 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Enderlin. From his earliest days, he was referred to by his middle name, so as not to be confused in conversation by others with his father. Growing up on the farm, he helped with chores and belonged to many great family stories. He graduated from Enderlin High School in 1946. Bill loved to sing, and his memories of singing in high school choir under a student of the famed St. Olaf Choir conductor, Olaf Christiansen, often brought tears to his eyes.

Bill was inducted into the US Navy in San Diego on May 15, 1946 for basic training. While waiting at Camp Matthews for a ship to Pearl Harbor, he was reassigned to a recruiting and receiving station in the Commander Service Division. Bill served in World War II as a Yoeman on the USS Lubbock. His Navy career took him to Guam, Hawaii, Japan and eventually back to San Francisco, where he was honorably decommissioned in 1947. A member of the Veterans Association and a Veteran of Foreign Wars, Bill said his service in the Navy significantly shaped his life.

Arriving too late in the fall to begin university, Bill went back to his family farm to help with the harvest. He entered NDSU, Fargo, in the Winter Quarter of 1947, on the GI Bill in the Pharmacy program. On January 12, 1948, a fire destroyed his home in Enderlin, and a few weeks later the Fargo Cleaners, where all his other clothes were, also burned.

Visiting the NDSU Lutheran Students Association, he met Helen Grondale, a ND native of Norwegian descent and a Home Economics major. They married at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Enderlin, ND on June 29, 1951. To their union two children were born, Kimberly in 1953 and Calvin in 1958. Helen passed on October 7, 2005 in Sioux Falls, SD.

In 1951 Bill graduated from NDSU and completed his Pharmacy Boards. He went to Devils Lake, ND to work at the Rexall Drugstore. In 1952, he purchased Maddock Drug (ND). He next moved in 1956 to Minot, ND to own Central Pharmacy. Later he purchased Minot Drug, Co. (1970) and created Dakota Drug Hearing Aid Co. (1974). He held both concerns until his retirement in 1996.

In Minot Bill belonged to the Elks and Lions Clubs, and was supportive in many service projects and community organizations, including the Community Concert Association and the internationally known Høstfest. A member of the Minot Country Club, Bill loved to golf. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Minot, where he sang for years in the Choir and served on the Church Council. He and Helen later became members of First Lutheran Church, Minot.

In the summer of 2002, Bill moved with Helen to Sioux Falls, SD, where they joined Peace Lutheran Church. He joined the American Legionnaires, a male vocal singing group, and enjoyed performing with them for many years. In addition to singing and attending concerts, Bill enjoyed watching baseball, football and golf. He also liked to travel. In 1997 and 2014 he went on extended stays in Norway, and in 2007, he went to Austria and Germany. In the summer of 2016, Bill had a big 90th birthday celebration in Fargo and Enderlin. Later that fall, he moved to the Clara House in Harmony, MN, an independent living residence. In December Bill suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed on one side. He has been cared for by the Winneshiek Mayo Hospital and Aase Haugen, both in Decorah, Iowa; Samaritan-Bethany, Rochester, MN; and, Gundersen Harmony Care Center, Harmony, MN. He died on Thursday, August 26, 2021. Known for his loyalty, generous heart and humorous spirit, Bill's motto was to "live well, laugh often and love much."

William is survived by a daughter, Dr. Kimberly Utke (Rev. Dr. Rolf) Svanoe, Decorah, Iowa; a son, Dr. Calvin (Kathryn) Utke, Colorado Springs, CO; a grandson, Dr. Will Matthias (Kathryn) Schouten, and great-grandsons, Luke Matthias and Liam Thomas, Rochester, MN; two step-granddaughters, Siri Svanoe-Loggins (Allen), Richmond, CA and Anya Svanoe, Oakland, CA; a sister-in-law, Crystal Utke, Moorhead, MN; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and his siblings, Albert, Martha, Palma, Marvin, Louise, Lawrence, Reinhold, Myrtle, Elroy, and Luella.

Memorials are being directed to the Utke Music Scholarship, Northwestern College, Orange City, IA; Minot Country Club Junior Golf Camp; Magic City (Minot) Youth Baseball program; and the NDSU School of Pharmacy, Fargo, ND.