WILLIAM PRUYS

William G. "Bill" Pruys, 86, a farmer north of Havre, died Monday Feb. 10, 2003, at a Great Falls hospital of natural causes.

A vigil will be 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Jude Catholic Church. A funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. Jude with Fr. Robert D. Grosch officiating. There will be a fellowship luncheon sponsored by the Knights of Columbus at the St. Jude Parish Center following the funeral Mass. Burial will follow the luncheon

at the Cottonwood Cemetery.

Bill was born Sept. 13, 1916, to Theodore and Frances (Gerhardt) Pruys north of Havre on the family homestead, where he

remained for 86 years. He attended Cottonwood No. 2 country school. On Sept. 9, 1942, Bill entered the U. S. Army during World War II. He returned to Havre to work the family farm north of Havre in the Cottonwood Community.

On Oct. 14, 1944, Bill married Gertrude Sherman from Rudyard at the St. Jude Catholic Church in Havre.

Bill enjoyed working on the farm and ranch.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Frances (Gerhardt) Pruys, and his wife, Gertrude Jewel Sherman Pruys on May 13, 1994.

Bill is survived by his daughters, Barbara (Chuck) Lawson of Glasgow, Kathryn Reed of Adair, Okla.; sons, Theodore Pruys of north of Havre and Fr. George Pruys of Wilton, N.D.; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorials in Bill's honor may be made to the St. Jude Catholic Church, 440 Seventh Ave., Havre, MT 59501 or the North Central Senior Citizens Center, 2 Second St. W., Havre, MT 59501

Services and arrangements are under the direction of the Holland and Bonine Funeral Home.