William Peter Cawley

To watch a recording of the service, please use the link: https://youtu.be/IYhXDQMnBUw 

William “Bill” Peter Cawley, 69, of Inkster, ND, was called home and passed into his Heavenly Father’s arms on February 3rd, 2024, at home surrounded by loved ones.  

Bill was born in Grand Forks, ND on November 2, 1954, to Leonard and Meredith (Graber) Cawley. He grew up with his sister, Linda, on the family farm between Inkster and Forest River.  He began his education in Forest River then became one of the first graduating classes at Midway High School in 1972.  He graduated in 1976 from the University of North Dakota with an accounting degree. He then returned to Inkster to pursue farming.

While farming, Bill continued to study business and started an income tax firm.  After many years of farming, Bill returned to UND to obtain his CPA license. After gaining experience working for others, he opened his own firm Bill Cawley CPA, in Grafton, ND in 1994.  He sold his firm in 2021 and continued on until his diagnosis of brain cancer this past November.

Bill’s passion for work did not hold a candle to the love he had for a young gal, Debra Swenson of Calvin ND. They were married on September 13, 1980, and made their home on the farm by the Forest River. They raised 4 children together and along came 11 beautiful grandchildren whom they adored. Bill became a caregiver and mournfully lost Debra to a battle with vascular dementia in 2021. He found love again when he pursued his high school classmate, Sharon (Bakke) Hensey.  They brought each other so much happiness and were married on December 30, 2022.

Bill spent his life dedicated to serving the Lord, helping others, and loving his family. He volunteered in many areas focusing around church and community. Bill was the first person many turned to for business or tax advice.  He was always willing to lend a hand and share a cup of coffee.  Bill remained a farmer at heart, often found combining during harvest, driving beet truck for neighbors, or working in his vegetable garden.  He absolutely loved spending time with his family. He was always on the floor playing with grandkids, doing something silly to make them laugh, playfully teasing, and sharing the great outdoors with them. 

Bill will be greatly missed by his community, friends, and family. He is survived by his wife Sharon, of Inkster ND; Children: John (Sara DeWaay) Cawley of Fort Collins CO, Kari (Sam) Owiredu of Corpus Christi TX, Lori (Bryan) Miller of Jamestown ND, and Erin (Adam) Jore of Erskine MN;  Step-daughter Jamie (Kelly) Larson of Fargo ND;  Grandchildren: Owen and Margaret Cawley, Syesha, Sarita, and Kingston Owiredu, Addilynn, Henrik, and Monte Miller, Krosby, Joanna, and Boden Jore, and Ethan and Gwen Smith; sister: Linda Sandmann of Lindstrom MN; brother-in-law Randy (Jeani) Swenson of Cook MN; sister-in-law Cindy (Mike) Milkey of Minot ND; and brother-in-law Randy (Correen) Bakke of Marshall MN.  He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Meredith (Graber) Cawley, his wife Debra (Swenson) Cawley, and brother-in-law David Sandmann.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 11:00a.m. at the Forest River Community Church, Forest River, ND, followed by burial at the Memorial Park Cemetery.  A light lunch will follow. Visitation will be held at the Amundson Funeral Home, in Grand Forks on Friday, February 9, 2024 from 4:00-6:00p.m., with a short prayer service and sharing memories at 6:00p.m.