Gerald “Jerry” Willson, 78, Leal, ND passed away peacefully while surrounded by his family at his home on February 24, 2023. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at 10:30 AM, in St. Boniface Catholic Church, Wimbledon, ND. On Wednesday, March 1, a prayer service will be held at the church at 7:00 PM with a time for visiting following the service.
Gerald Howard Willson was born in northern ND, but grew up in and made rural Barnes County, ND his lifelong home. Jerry attended school in Leal and Rogers, ND. He was a member of the class of 1962, the first class to graduate from the “original” North Central of Barnes.
At an early age, Jerry was working with his dad on the family farm. He also hauled milk and drove the school bus from time to time. In 1988, he started Willson Custom Harvesting and never really retired from that….Over the 34 years they gained not just customers, they turned into extended family all the way from Oklahoma to North Dakota.
October 7, 1966, he married MaryJean Schwalk at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Courtenay, ND. They made their home on the farm raising their family.
Jerry was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and the Eagles Aerie 2192.
He is survived by his wife, MaryJean; sons, Jeff (Denise) and Joel (Kristi); daughter, Julie (Corey) Muilenburg; grandchildren, Karli (Antonie Kritzinger) Willson, Macy (Nick Peterson) Willson, Kayla (Dillon) Zajac. Hannah (Mitchell) Lonneman, Hope Willson (Brayden Hanson), Jayle (Kevin) Engberg, Jayden (Jacob) Mortenson, Collin Muilenburg, and Kiara Muilenburg; great grandchildren, Barrett & Wesson and Nova & George; brothers, Art (Deb) Bakken and Bob Willson; sisters, Judy Dauer, Judy Larson, Barb (Kim) Halloway; and many nieces, nephews, other extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Merrill & Adeline; in-laws, Alfred & Eleanor Schwalk; brothers, Jack, Jerald, Jerome, and John and a sister, Diane.
The Lerud Mathias Funeral Home in Valley City is assisting Jerry’s family with arrangements. An online guestbook is available on his tribute page at www.lerudmathias.com