Bill Putnam
courtesy photo
Bill Putnam
MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA — Charles William (Bill) Putnam, 85, Minot, formerly of the Grand Forks and Alsen area, North Dakota, died on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, in a Minot nursing home.
Bill was born on Oct. 26, 1935, at Grand Forks, North Dakota, the son of Charles and Louise (Rund) Putnam. He was raised in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Proctor, Minnesota, and Seattle, Washington. He later moved to Alsen, North Dakota, where he lived with his Aunt Molly and Uncle Jake Albrecht and graduated from high school in 1954.
Bill was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Melva Pankratz, July 28, 1953, in Alsen. Bill was employed with Red Owl Grocery throughout North Dakota and Minnesota. The family moved to Minot in 1971 where he worked for I. Keating Furniture. He would later become the pastor of the Calvary Alliance Church in Minot.
In 1980, he and Melva began a traveling ministry of music and evangelism through the Christian Missionary Alliance denomination, where they traveled extensively across the US and Canada. Following this, he entered into ministry as full time Pastor at Polson, for 16 years with the Christian Missionary Alliance Church. During this time, he completed studies and became an ordained minister.
Bill retired to North Dakota to be closer to his family. He was a former member of the Swiss Mennonite Church in Alsen and had attended First Assembly of God Church in Minot. He was a member of the XYZ fellowship at First Baptist Church, the Sertoma Club of Minot and had enjoyed playing the guitar, hunting and fishing.
His loving family includes his wife of 67 years, Melva; his children, Gene (Cynthia) Putnam of Minot, North Dakota; LaVonne (Mark) Hamre, of Yakima, Washington, and Beckie (Jeremiah) Taylor of Minot, North Dakota; eight grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; sibling, Frances Page of Los Angeles, California, along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Grant Putnam, Wendell Putnam, and Ted Walters; and sisters, Pearl Sorenson and Cathy Gourdine.
A public graveside service will be held on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Alsen Community Cemetery in Alsen, North Dakota, Public Community Cemetery in Alsen, North Dakota. Public visitation will be held on Friday, Nov. 27, from 4-6 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot. There will be a delayed streaming of the service starting on Monday, Nov. 30, by viewing Bill’s obituary on the funeral home website. Those wishing to sign the online memorial register or share memories are invited to use the expressions of sympathy section at: www.thomasfamilyfuneralhone.com
