Bill Wilson

William Lyle Wilson, 87, of Saint James and formerly of Fairmont, died April 2, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Saint James.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Saint James. Visitation will continue at the church on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with the funeral service at 11:00am. Interment will take place at Mount Hope Cemetery in Saint James. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Saint James. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Bill was born January 6, 1939, to Russell and Mabel (DeWeerd) Wilson in Saint James. He graduated from Saint James High School in 1957 and continued his education at Mankato State College, receiving a bachelor’s degree in teaching. On June 27, 1959, he married Mary Lou Carlson at the First Presbyterian Church in Saint James. Together, they raised three children, Cathie, Jeff, and Jon. Mary Lou died in 1999.

Bill began his teaching career in Jeffers, Minnesota, eventually settling in Fairmont, teaching middle school math for more than 30 years. He retired in 1997. In Fairmont, he started the wrestling program and coached several sports including Jr. high wrestling, 9th grade football, and B-squad baseball. He was inducted into the Fairmont Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005 and was awarded Teacher of the Year for the 1993-1994 school year.

In his free time, Bill enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping with Mary Lou, and playing together in their card club. Bill especially enjoyed visiting with friends and family and traveling to watch his grandchildren play sports.

Bill is survived by his children, Cathie Dudley of Le Roy, Minnesota, Jeff (Comfort) Wilson of Albertville, Minnesota, and Jon Wilson of Saint James; grandchildren, Calen (Carlos) Ruiz, Joe Dudley, Antoine (Abbie) Ziegler, Ana (Joy Harken) Radloff, Elizabeth (Marcel) Allen, Megan (Hector Alvarado) Wilson, Lena (Aaron) Anderson, Michael (Hannah) Sturm, Addison Wilson, and Aubrey Wilson; great grandchildren, Antoine, Jr., Aliana, Isaiah, Ian, Ben, Tailyn, Sanae, Marcel, Jr., Maiyah, Malia, Mia, Nia, Jada, Kaia, Sasha, Tiago, Lily, Luisa, Finley, and one on the way; former daughter-in-law, Melissa Wilson; sister, Marian Chesrown; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary Lou in 1999; son-in-law, Vincent Dudley; and brothers-in-law, Kenneth Majors and Bill Chesrown.