Roger “Bill” W. Kurtti, 72, Rock Lake, ND died unexpectedly May 17, 2010 at Towner County Medical Center ER, Cando, ND.

Roger William Kurtti was born October 2, 1937 in Rolla, ND to Arvid and Alma (Peterson) Kurtti. He grew up on the family farm in Armourdale Township, rural Towner County, ND and attended Armourdale Township School #3. After finishing school he helped his dad and Uncle Edwin on the family farm until he entered the U.S. Army. After being honorably discharged, Bill came back to the farm and completed his training with Krech’s flying service in Rolla to earn his pilot’s license. He continued to do aerial crop spraying with them and also with Wakefield Flying Service out of Devils Lake from 1963 until 1972. Around this time, he also served as a local 4-H leader.

On January 2, 1964, Bill was united in marriage to Mertie Billgren of St. John, ND in Rolla. Bill and Mertie made their home on the family farm where they farmed and ranched; raising pure-bred Hereford cattle. Bill was very active, not only in his faith, but also with his family. Every year after seeding was done the family was able to go on a trip in the flying club plane. They also went fishing during the summer. In 1996 Bill and Mertie became snowbirds going to Arizona and finally settling near Holtville, CA where they made many new friends and enjoyed the natural hot springs.

Bill served on the Armourdale Township Board, the Rock Lake Farmers Union Board, the Rock Lake volunteer fire department, the National Farmers Organization (NFO) and was an active amateur radio (ham) operator. His interest with radio began with Citizen’s Band (CB) radio where his handle was the “Jackelope”. Later, he served as the North Dakota Section Manager for the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) (the national organization for amateur radio) for 10+ years and was active with the Navy-Marines Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS).

Bill is survived by his wife Mertie, of Rock Lake, ND, son Roger (Michelle) Kurtti, of Rock Lake, daughter Karin (Tom) Will, of Minot, ND and son Erling (Kirsten) Kurtti, of Coon Rapids, MN; 10 grandchildren: Matthew Kurtti, Paul Kurtti, Michael Kurtti, Sara Kurtti, Danielle Will, Jared Will, Jordan Will, Joshua Will, Elizabeth Kurtti and Sophie Kurtti. Other survivors include his brother Dr. Daniel (Yuko) Kurtti, of Brooklyn Park, MN and sister-in-law Sharon (Lloyd) Hovland, of Perth, ND.

Bill was preceded in death by his brother, Tom Kurtti, father Arvid Kurtti, and mother Alma Kurtti.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at Mt. Pleasant School District #4, Rolla School, Rolla, ND at 11:00AM.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 21, 2010 at the Dunnigan-Dix Funeral Home in Cando from 4:00PM until 8:00PM. There will also be visitation for one hour prior to the service at the school in Rolla on Saturday.

Interment: Mt. View Cemetery, Armourdale Township, North Dakota

The news of Bills passing just reached us, From all his friends from the HF Skipnet our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to his family.

We will miss Bill deeply.