Basilius "Bill" Blotsky

Basilius “Bill” Blotsky, 90, of Mandan, passed away on January 3, 2024.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, January 8, 2024, at Ascension Catholic Church, 1825 S 3rd St, Bismarck, ND.

A visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM, Sunday, January 7, 2024, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck. A vigil/rosary service will begin at 7:00 PM.

Burial will be held at 2:00 PM at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Bill was born in Grant County, ND on September 14, 1933. Son to Cornelius and Salamea Blotsky, he was raised on the farm. He grew up with 11 brothers and sisters in the Raleigh-Flasher area.

At 18, Bill was drafted into the army at the end of the Korean War. This was the beginning of his very long and active service in the military. Bill was passionate about serving his country. If you ever ran into him, he would be wearing a baseball hat with military pins and flags.

After Bill’s active military service, he transferred to the active Army Reserve. He served in several capacities over the years, but was very proud of his service as an instructor and recruiter for the USAR school. He retired after 40 years as a Sergeant Major.

Leadership assignments always seemed to follow Bill. Over the years he served with several organizations. He was President of the ND Fraternal Congress, Chairman of the Burleigh County Council on Aging, President of the Musicians Local 229, and was Grand Councilor for United Commercial Travelers.

Bill married his wife, Clara on October 4, 1955. After 68 years of marriage, you would still find him holding her hand whenever they were together. Clara was the love of his life, and where you would find one, you would find the other one very close at hand. Together, Bill and Clara had seven children

Bill was an avid football and baseball fan. No matter how poorly the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins played, he was still right there to cheer them on. Bill was known to call his kids and bet $1.00 on the games. He always wanted to “make it interesting”.

After Bill and Clara retired, they spent several years traveling in the wintertime. They loved the warmer weather in AZ and TX. But they were always excited to return to ND to see their kids and grandkids.

The last several years of his life, Bill and Clara lived at Edgewood Vista in Mandan, ND. During his time there, he got to know many of the other residents and staff. He was always laughing and joking with them when he ran into them in the hallways on his scooter.

Bill made an impression on everyone he met at Edgewood. He will be loved and missed by his wife, his family, and his many friends.

He is survived by his loving wife, Clara; seven children and their spouses: Clifford & Laura Blotsky, Chaska, MN, Karen & Steve Wolff, Bismarck, Deb McCrory, Bismarck, Ellen & Gerard Klein, Bismarck, Randy Blotsky and his fiancé, Sandra Stroud, Newport Richey, FL, Patty & Darrel Bosch, Bismarck, and Aaron & Mandy Blotsky, Prior Lake, MN; and his sisters and brothers: Katherine Huff, Laverne Emineth, Phyllis Lenz, Eva Giese, Jerome Blotsky, Fr. Hugo Blotsky, and Ted Blotsky. Bill and Clara also have 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Bill was predeceased by his dad and mother, Cornelius & Salamea Blotsky and several brothers and sisters.