Willie "Bill" Arnold Saari

Willie Saari, also known as Bill, of Pine City and formerly of Hinckley, Minnesota, died at Lakeside Medical Center in Pine City on January 1, 2011, at the age of 91 years. He was born to Frank and Johanna (Raal) Saari on February 20, 1919 at Kimball, Minnesota. He grew up on the family farm with nine brothers and sisters. Bill married Delila Abrahamson and together they had a son, James. They had a small farm, but it became necessary for Willie to find work. He went to San Diego, California and Delila passed away while he was gone. When Bill returned, he went to North Dakota to work in the wheat fields. While there he met and married Mary Peterson and they had a daughter, Carol. During World War II, Bill served in the United States Army Air Force from January of 1945 to August of 1946. He was stationed in the South Pacific and received the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon and two Overseas Service Bars. A farmer at heart, Bill worked on many farms and had several of his own over the years. He farmed near Staples and Blue Grass, Minnesota and worked on farms near Rosemount and Howard Lake, Minnesota. At one time he also was proprietor of bars in Range, Wisconsin and Rush City, Minnesota. He eventually purchased a farm near Hinckley, Minnesota, which he owned and operated for 30 years. When he left the farm, he lived with his daughter for a few years prior to becoming a resident of the Lakeside Medical Center. Bill loved his horses and mules and was always going to various sales barns and auctions. He often appeared with his Haflinger horses (small Austrian breed) in the parades of many different towns in the area. Bill also used a team of Palomino-Shetland horses to pull a small stagecoach in events. His grandchildren and great grandchildren were very important to him and he loved spending time with them. He bought the grandchildren horses and was very generous to neighbor children and friends. Bill also loved to travel; visiting Texas for several winters He is survived by his son: James (Phyllis) Saari of Cokato, MN; daughter: Carol (Neil) Purdy of Pine City; grandchildren: Tracy (Bill Pantlin) Gilbey, Kim (Mike) Hanson, Heidi Jean, Cheryl (Joedy) Gilbey-Wallace; great grandchildren: Jessica Lange, Makenzie Lange, Cortney Altergott, Scarlet Pantlin, and Micheal Gilbey; sister: Mildred Shrode of Buffalo, MN; brothers: Richard (Ceil) Saari of Coon Rapids, MN and Albert (Mary Lou) Saari of Pine City. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Hannah (Raal) Saari, wives Delila and Mary, grandson Brandon James Gilbey, sisters Helen Brown and Minnie Linderholm, and brothers Oscar, Gunnar, Carl, and Arnold Saari. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Thursday, January 6, 2010 at the Living Hope Christian Center in Pine City with Chaplin Marlin Harris officiating. Music was provided by Mike Palmer. Casket bearers were Randy Hickle, Steve Sikkink, Marlin Kruse, Cliff Theline, Bill Pantlin, and Joedy Wallace. Interment was at the Birchwood Cemetery in Pine City with military honors provided by the Stensmark-Farnsworth American Legion Post # 388 of Hinckley, MN.