William Burcham Obituary
William (Bill) John Burcham went home to be with the Lord, and reunite with his wife, Tuesday June 20, 2023. Memorial services will be on Friday, July 14, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Bismarck Funeral Home. Burial will follow at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.
Bill was born February 23, 1935, in Belcourt, ND to Nora Faine and Clarence Burcham. He was raised and attended grade school in the turtle mountains. Bill served in the United States Navy in 1956 as an Electrician Apprentice before being honorably discharged in 1957. He resided in several different places within North Dakota and Minnesota throughout most of his life. He was a hard, dedicated worker, some of his previous employers include Fishers in Dickinson and Porter Brothers and Bingorama in Minot. He married Marcella Walette and gained a daughter. Together they welcomed 5 children into the world before later divorcing. Bill married Carlotta (Toddy) Werkmeister in 1981 and gained 3 additional children and they had 2 children together. Bill and Toddy remained married and raised their family in Dickinson and later Minot, until her passing in 2020. He was sassy, stubborn, particular, and hardheaded but had a huge heart and loved to joke and poke fun of people (although he was good at dishing it out, he wasn't so good at taking it!) Those who knew him well were also likely to witness him throwing a fit over things like burnt toast or having a hair out of place. Bill enjoyed junk collecting, flea markets, garage sales, trips to Medora and the Medora Musical, listening to old country western music, watching westerns, telling stories about his younger years, going out for coffee and breakfast, and sharing a morning bowl of frosted flakes with his little buddy.
He is survived by his daughters, Susan (Myron) Cahoon and Deborah (David) Cahoon of Center, ND. Connie Fisher of Pick City, ND and Amber (Randy) Ballard of Minot, ND. Sons, Shannon (Christine) Burcham and Jesse (Larissa) McGrath of Minot, ND, Mike McGrath of Gibson City, IL. Nathan (Amanda) Burcham of San Antonio, TX. Sister Janet Sprouce of Indiana. Sisters and Brothers-in-laws. Numerous grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren, neices, nephews and other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by both sets of Grandparents, both Parents, Wife Carlotta Burcham, Daughters, Roxanne Cahoon and Jennifer Bierschbach, Son, Clarence (Mike) Burcham, brothers, Clarence Burcham, Marion (Buddy) Burcham and Robert (Bobby) Burcham and brother-in-law, Kevin Werkmeister.
Honorary Pallbearers: Shannon Burcham, Nathan Burcham, Jesse McGrath, Michael McGrath, Randy Ballard, David Cahoon and Myron Cahoon.
