Bill Stramer, 90, Hazelton, passed away Sunday, January 18, 2015 at Strasburg Care Center. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Hazelton with Fr. David Richter officiating. A rosary will precede the service at 1:30 p.m. Immediately following the funeral mass, burial will be at St. Paul's Catholic Cemetery, Hazelton.Visitation will be held 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at Myers Funeral Home in Linton and will continue three hours prior to the time of service at the church on Friday. A funeral vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home in Linton.William Mathew Stramer was born February 26, 1924 in Hazelton, the son of Clara and Mathew Stramer. Bill attended primary school at the Danbury School, in Danbury Township. During high school he enlisted with the US Navy, attended machine shop training at Wahpeton State School of Science, and formally entered the navy in 1943, serving on the USS Independence CVL 22, the first night aircraft carrier that operated off the coast of Japan. Returning from service in 1945, he resumed farming with his father and bought his first parcel of farm land in the fall 1955. Bill married Elaine Twomey April 6, 1953, and together they raised five children, building their family business over the next forty years.A childhood dust bowl survivor, Bill was a hardworking industrious farmer, and master craftsman of many skills. He loved his work, and had endless ambitions and plans, conceiving and building equipment to suit the scale he needed for his operation. He was an avid hunter and outdoor sportsman, but his favorite pastime was piloting one of several single engine Cessna aircraft he owned in succession. Many a friend and relative were treated to Bill's playful aerial antics, and left their seat at the end of their rides with a little less lunch.He was a member of the Hazelton Airport Authority, a member of Flying Farmers of North Dakota for over 20 years, a licensed pilot over 35 years, a member of the North Dakota Aviation Council more than 15 years, and a board member of the Emmons County Water Resource Board.Bill is survived by Elaine, his wife of 61 years, daughter Ann, sons Douglas, Mathew, Todd, Steve and his wife Joy, grand daughters Elizabeth, Grace and Hannah, and sisters Bertha Lunzer, Lola Karls and Lucile Hogan.