To view the recording of the Funeral Service  please go to: https://youtu.be/YDTGYbpFGE8

William Carl Rath , 87, of Grand Forks, ND passed away Saturday, September 17, 2022, at Valley Senior Living on Columbia in Grand Forks.

William "Bill" Rath was born on May 22, 1935, the son of Carl and Anna (Wentz) Rath, at the family farm, 2.5 miles north of Munich, ND.  He was raised near Clyde, ND and graduated from Clyde High School.  In school, he excelled in basketball and baseball, where he pitched several no hitter games.  He graduated in 1953.

Bill went on to obtain an Associates degree in Architectural Drafting and Estimating from the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND.

Bill worked in the lumber business all his life.  He began his career at Farm & Home Lumber in West Fargo, ND as a draftsman. He went on to work at lumber yards in:  Grand Rapids, MN at the Minnesota Lumber Co, Tolna, ND at Farmers Union Lumber, Ireland's Lumber in Grand Forks, ND, and in Carrington, ND.  After all those years of learning the business he was ready to work for himself and started Lisbon Lumber in Lisbon, ND.  While running this business he even found time to design, build, and patent hexagonal shaped airplane hangars that can hold 6 planes while only requiring one door.  These hangars are still in use in Oakes and West Fargo.  Bill's design and construction legacy also lives on in the American Lutheran Church in Tolna, and the Adams, ND Post Office.  Bill served on the board of directors and also as vice president of the North Dakota Lumber Association.  During this time, Bill was also very active in the Lisbon Jaycee's where he received many awards.  In 1987, Bill moved to Grand Forks and finished out his career at Lumber Mart, in East Grand Forks, MN.

Throughout his life, Bill was blessed with children and grandchildren.  In 1962, Terri Jeanne and Carrie Lynn (twins) were born.  Sadly, Carrie Lynn did not survive that day and is buried in Akeley, MN.  He then raised Shawn, Shannon, and Brian in Lisbon, and later in Grand Forks, when they moved in 1987.

Bill married Helen Lazur on November 12, 1988, at Calvary Lutheran Church.  In doing so, he gained two wonderful step-children, Mike and Jill Lazur.  Just when they thought they were done, Bill and Helen later took in and raised Molly, his grand-daughter, after both of her parents had passed away.

Even after retirement, Bill's business savvy never waned as he bought land south of Grand Forks to build batting cages, (Line Drive Batting Cages) and then later, partnered in the building of the Center for Psychiatric Care.

He continued to build furniture and wooden decorations for family and friends, construct numerous buildings on his river property near Menahga, MN, and attended many UND basketball games with Helen.

He is survived by his wife, Helen; his children, Shawn (Kristen) Rath, Missoula, MT, Shannon (Andrew) Minniti, Fargo, ND, Brian (Emilie) Rath, Lake Park, MN, Michael (Kay) Lazur, Reynolds, ND, Jill Lazur, Knoxville, TN: siblings, Janet McArthur, Carol Jean Downs, Leonard (Inez) Rath, Kathleen (Marty) Smith, Phyllis Salacinski and Bruce Rath; grandchildren, Carlie Sessing, Zachary Armstrong, Molly Hanson, Michael Rath, Myer Rath, Brolin Rath, Sophia Minniti, Amelia Minniti, Brooklynn Lazur and Hailey Lazur.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Anna Rath; daughters, Terri Armstrong-Hanson and Carrie Lynn Rath and a brother, Vernon Rath.

Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 23, 2022, in the Historic Norman Funeral Home Chapel, 2950 South Washington Street, Grand Forks, ND
Visitation: One hour prior to the service in the funeral home on Friday.
Burial: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 24, 2022, at Hawley Cemetery, Hawley, MN.