William Donald “Bill” Kraft, the son of Alexander Sr. and Rosina (Ripplinger) Kraft was born on July 29, 1935 in Rugby, North Dakota.  He died at the age of 83 years on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at the Sheyenne Care Center in Valley City, North Dakota.

Bill was reared in the Finnegan Township, Rolette County farm home of his parents and received his education in a rural school near his home.  On June 14, 1955 he was united in marriage to Janet Fontaine in the St. Louis Catholic Church in Dunseith, North Dakota. The couple made their home on the Kraft Family homestead where they farmed, ranched and raised their children.  He was a member of  Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Rolette, the Rugby Eagles and a former board member of the grain elevator. When younger, he was active in bowling and curling leagues. Bill enjoyed the company of his family and friends and had a great passion for and devotion to his cattle.

Bill is survived by his wife of 63 years, Janet of Rugby; his children, Cynthia Kujawa (Roger Leitschuh) of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Wanda (Rick) Olson of Sentinel Butte and Timothy (Tami) Kraft of Rugby; grandchildren, Justin (Sara Cade) and Garrett Carbone, Travis (Kelly) Olson, Lindsay (Chris) Holznagel and Derek Kraft; great grandchildren, Jocelynn Carbone, Hayden and Bennett Holznagel and Jordee Ann Olson; a brother Alex Jr. of Rolette; two sisters, Rosie Dokken of Leeds and Martha Thingvold of Lemon, South Dakota.  He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Tamera Marie;  two brothers, Walter and Frank; four sisters, Marian Hackman, Juliana Thompson, Frances Houim and Regina Bertsch; and his parents.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, November 8th at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rolette with a 1:45 p.m. burial in the  St. Louis Catholic Cemetery in Dunseith

Visitation will be on Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with Rosary and Vigil prayer service beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Anderson Funeral Home in Rugby.  Reviewal for one hour prior to the service in the church on Thursday.