William Kirk

William “Bill” Kirk, 70, Bismarck, passed away on March 5, 2024 at Missouri Slope Nursing Home.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, March 11 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 502 N 4th St, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 4:00PM to 6:00PM, Sunday, March 10 at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Visitation will continue an hour before the service begins.

Interment at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

To view the service livestream, click this link https://trinitybismarck.com/

Bill was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 23, 1953 to William L. and Elva (Harward) Kirk. He was proud to have served in the United States Air Force. He was a cadet in the Air Force ROTC program as he finished his engineering degree at the University of Utah. He then received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and was assigned to Minot Air Force Base in August of 1975. A couple of highlights from his service included riding in a T38 supersonic jet and piloting a helicopter, as well as selection to Squadron Officer School in Montgomery, Alabama. Bill finished his Air Force service as a Captain.

He briefly worked for the ND Water Commission before beginning a 36-year career as a civil engineer for North American Coal Corporation based at Coteau Properties north of Beulah. He enjoyed his work as a hydrologist, designing and overseeing construction of ponds and other duties. Over the course of his professional life, he became licensed as a PE in three states, received numerous awards, and was a lifetime member of American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE and the North Dakota Society of Professional Engineers.

Bill served on the Knife River Care Center Board of Directors, Mercer County Water Board, and the Church Council, including eight years as Council President of Zion Lutheran Church in Beulah.

Intrigued by history, he enjoyed planning family vacations that included trips to national parks, forts, and museums. He possessed a lifelong love of the outdoors, and delighted in sharing his enjoyment of fly fishing, hunting, camping, bike riding, and hiking with his family. He was skilled at identifying rocks, birds, and plants, and was always eager to share his knowledge with others. He enjoyed collecting HO trains and designing track layouts, building model airplanes, and reading.

Bill is survived by his wife of 46 years, Valerie (Johnson) Kirk; his children, Ryan (Katie) and Mackenzie Kirk, Kelly Kirk (Ian Laber), and Kyle Kirk; his mother Elva Kirk; sister, Loretta Kirk, brother David (Cuc) Kirk; brothers-in-law, Greg (Sue) Johnson, Danny (Madonna) Johnson, Dwight (Patty) Johnson, Randy Johnson (Marilyn); along with numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, William L. Kirk; uncles and aunts, Clive (Noreen) Kirk, Vance (Beverly) Kirk, Donna Kirk and parents-in-law Joseph & Ellen Johnson.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to the ND Veterans Cemetery Foundation, CHI Hospice or charity of choice.