William "Bill" Ryan, 88, Harvey, ND died on Saturday, December 21, 2013 at the St. Aloisius Hospital in Harvey.

Funeral Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday, December 27 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Harvey, ND.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m.
to 8 p.m. Thursday with an 8 p.m. prayer service on Thursday at Hertz Funeral Home, Harvey, ND.

Burial will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan on Friday Dec. 27 at 3 p.m.

William Vincent Ryan was born on October 23, 1925 on the family farm near Crary, ND. He was the son of William and Anna (Polis) Ryan. He grew up on the family farm, attended rural school and graduated from the Devils Lake High School in 1942. He entered the Navy on March 30, 1944. He served as Quartermaster on board the USS Graffias in the Pacific Theatre during and after World War II. Bill was honorably discharged June 1, 1946. He returned to Devils Lake and resumed farming. He worked for Lake Electric, Nodak Rural Electric Cooperative and then with Otter Tail Power Company as an apprentice lineman. He married Stephanie Kuntz on July 7, 1953 in Devils Lake. He became the Otter Tail Division Forman in Rugby in 1951. They lived in Rugby until 1958 when Bill was transferred to Harvey and was the Service Representative for Otter Tail Power Company. Bill retired from Otter Tail in 1988 having been employed by Otter Tail for nearly 40 years and never had a time lost accident during that period.

Bill was very active in civic and community affairs. He was a member of the city council for 10 years and served as the Harvey mayor form 1974 to 1980. While being mayor, the city undertook several major projects including water treatment improvements, annexations, a new city wide storm sewer, curb, gutter and paving. He also served on the Harvey Rec Board, Special Assessment and Board of Adjustments. Bill was a Boy Scout Leader and Charter Member of the Harvey Jaycees. He also served as President of the Harvey Kiwanis Club and Harvey Chamber of Commerce. He was a registered EMT on the Harvey Ambulance Service of which he served as it's first President and taught Red Cross Classes. He was also a member of the Harvey Volunteer Fire Department for over 25 years. Bill served on the executive board of the South Central Regional Planning Commission, Economic Development Board and St. Aloisius Medical Center Board of Directors.

Bill enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and friends. Other interests included golfing, shooting trap, bowling, carpentry and politics. He continued these activities well into retirement.

Bill is survived by his wife, Stephanie; son and daughter-in-law, Bill Jr. and Kerry Ryan of Austin, MN; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Steve Johnson of Eden Prairie, MN; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sisters, Betty (Jim) Bloomquist of Devils Lake; Jeannie (Louie) Moore of Billings, MT; Beverly (Ken) Hoveland of Fargo, ND; nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Kitty (Fred) Hayes and Etta (Morris) Hatten.

Bill touched the lives of many and will be dearly missed.

Memorials are preferred to the Harvey Ambulance Service, PO Box 4, Harvey, ND 58341