William Saumur

William G. (Bill) Saumur, 91, Grand Forks, died Saturday, October 15, 2011 in Luther Memorial Home, Mayville, North Dakota. William George Saumur was born to George Henry Saumur and Marie Grace (Hamel) Saumur on May 26, 1920 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He grew up on the family farm 2 miles west of the Grand Forks airport. He attended a one-room country school, Rye #30 and graduated from St. James Academy in 1938. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1942 and served in the South Pacific as an aviation machinist at Luganville Airfield in the New Hebrides. Bill was honorably discharged in January 1946, but for many years remained active in the military reserve. He had a 38 year career as letter carrier with the US Post Office in Grand Forks. Evidence of his dedication and dependability was confirmed by having 3,232 hours of unused sick leave at the time of his retirement in 1984. Although never an athlete, Bill loved baseball and was a loyal Yankees fan. Bill married Jean Dean Holland on October 27, 1951 in Grand Forks. They divorced many years later, but remained good friends. Jean Holland died on April 10, 2011. Bill was the last local person to carry the Saumur name sice it first appeared in 1878 with the homesteading of his grandparents in Rye Township of Grand Forks County. Bill was a life member of Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Knights of Columbus, and the American Legion. He is survived by sisters; Sister Grace Saumur C.S.J., St. Paul, Minnesota, Adrienne (Gene) Paulson, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and Patricia (Omer) Larson, Grand Forks; and nine nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, John; and a sister, Dorothy Pederson. The family wishes to thank the staff at St. Anne's Guest Home in Grand Forks and Luther Memorial Home in Mayville for their love and care the past five years. Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 20, 2011 in St. Michael's Catholic Church, 520 5th Ave North, Grand Forks. Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 19, 2011 in Amundson Funeral Home, 2975 S. 42nd St., Grand Forks, and one hour prior to the funeral mass in the church. Interment: will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, North Dakota Military Honors: will be conducted by VFW Post #3817, American Legion Post #157, East Grand Forks, and Manvel American Legion Post #299, together with the North Dakota National Guard.