William Gene Perkins

William "Bill" Gene Perkins (age 86) died at Evergreen Hospice Center in Kirkland, WA on June 27th, 2024.  Bill was born on January 19th, 1938 in Dodgeville, WI to Homer & Ida (Gulson) Perkins.

Bill enjoyed discussions on farm topics such as livestock, crops, and John Deere tractors. He had  passionate views for politics and religion.  He also had interest in his grandchildren and what they were studying.  He loved hearing stories of others and found common ground with each person he encountered. 

Bill graduated from Dodgeville high school in WI in 1956.  Shortly thereafter he enlisted for active duty in  the Army at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for 6 months.  He returned to enroll at Luther College in Decorah, IA and  graduated  in 1961.  

Bill thought of becoming an AG teacher, but after returning from Lutheran Youth Convention in San Francisco, 1955, he gave a talk to his home church. The organist suggested he would be good to pursue the ministry.  

Bill joined several college friends  and enrolled at Luther Seminary in St Paul, MN.

For a summer Bill was a chaplain for the Boy Scouts in Colorado and he did his internship at Grace Lutheran Church in Washington DC.  

Bill arrived in 1963 one day after Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I have a dream" speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial.  

After returning to St Paul to continue his studies, Bill met his future wife, Ruth Irene in October 1964.  Ruth worked as a registered nurse in Minneapolis/St Paul area.  Bill and Ruth married at Central Lutheran Church, in Minneapolis on April 10, 1965. After completing seminary, Bill was ordained at Grace Lutheran Church in Dodgeville, WI and answered his first call to serve at Five Points Lutheran Church near Richland Center, WI.  All three of his children were born there. Bill served for 5 years.  

Bill wrote to his Synod Bishop that the Lord was calling him to serve in a different capacity so he could grow as a minister.  Bill was able to switch synods and join Our Saviors Lutheran Church in La Crosse, WI.  He served as an associate pastor from 1970-1973.    

After serving  in WI, Bill answered another call to be sole pastor at a two-point parish in Toeterville and Mitchell, IA. In 1978, Bill was called to Kanawha, IA where he served another two point parish. Bill then returned to Wisconsin for his last call in Pigeon Falls, WI where he served two churches until his retirement in 2000. 

After retirement, Bill and Ruth lived in Eau Claire, WI and finally returned to Duluth, MN to be near Ruth's family.  Family was important to Bill.  He was grateful for his own family and he was grateful for Ruth's family who included him in their fold.  

Bill is preceded in death by his wife, Ruth (Conley) Perkins, his parents, Homer and Ida (Gulson) Perkins, and his niece Phyllis Dresden.  

Bill is survived by his three children, Andrew (Juanita Chavez), Missouri, Daniel (Annuska), Washington, Carolyn (Joel) Setterholm, Minnesota.  He is also survived by four grandchildren, David, Maxwell, Aidan, and Angelica.  Bill is also survived by his sister, Marilyn in Arizona as well as many other wonderful family members and friends. 

There will be a funeral for Bill at Faith Lutheran in Redmond, WA at 1 pm on July 18th. Bill will be laid to eternal rest at Silverbrook Cemetery in Wrenshall, MN. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to Lutheran World Relief, Habitat for Humanity, or CHUM in Duluth, MN, or as you desire.