THE KENMARE NEWS
Wednesday, March 5, 1961

Coons Rites Here Thursday

William Marvel Coons, retired farmer of the Coulee area, passed away Sunday, March 5, at Jamestown. Mr. Coons had been in ill health the past eighteen months.

Mr. Coons was born July 12, 1878, at Olivia, Minn. Before homesteading in Crowfoot Township, Mountrail County, in 1901, he lived at Atwater, Minn. He was married to Elsie Pemble in 1905 in Paynesville, Minn. Her death occurred in 1923. Mr. Coons was subsequently married in August 1924 to Augusta Schwede at Stanley.
For many years, Mr. Coons served as the chairman of the township board, the Coulee Elevator and school boards, and was FHA committeeman for Mountrail County.

Survivors are Mrs. Coons of Coulee; two daughters, Mrs. Robert Barnes (Blanch), Carsen, Wash.; Mrs. Thomas Torbenson (Florence), Plaza, this state; four sons, David and William Jr., Coulee, Donald, Kodiak, Alaska and Milton, Minot; nine grandchildren and eight great - grandchildren. His parents, two sisters and three brothers preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon, March 9, 2 o'clock, at the memorial auditorium in Kenmare.
Erling Omdahl, Kenmare, will officiate.
Pallbearers will be Silas Naas, Sr., Harry Jacobson, Arthur Harris, Roy Christianson, John Lindquist and Herbert Clark.

Interment will be in Lakeview cemetery with Ringen Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
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William M. "Bill" Coons was born on July 12.
1878. at Olivia. Minnesota. Bill was raised by
Norm Clarks at Atwater, MN and lived there
until he went to work at St. Peter. MN.

Bill came to North Dakota in 1901. and filed on a claim in Crowfoot Twp. Imperial Ward County. A claim shack was built on the northwest corner of the claim. He, Blanche Clark and Will Clark lived there until Bill built near the center of his claim.

In 1905 Bill married Elsie L. Pemble at Paynesville. MN. To this union four children were born: Milton of Hamilton. Montana who has three daughters: Blanche Barnes of Stevenson. Washington who has two children: David of Coulee who has one son: and Florcence Torbenson of Minot who has three sons.

Elsie was a member of the school hoard, secretary of the Farmers Club and also taught Sunday School. She and Bill were also active in politics. Elsie died in 1923. Bill was active in community affairs. He helped organize Coulee Farmers Elevator and served on the board for many years, was chairman of the Crowfoot Township Board,was a member of the school board, and was on the Farmers Home Administration Committee. He loved to hunt and fish and he enjoyed many sports.

In August of 1924 he married Augusta Schwede at Stanley. To them two sons were born: Donald of Kodiak, Alaska who has three step-sons and William of Donnybrook who has two children.

From "Tales of the Mighty Mountrail"