WILLIAM M. "BUMPY" HENDRICKX

William M. “Bumpy” Hendrickx, Jr. 57 of Devils Lake, ND died in a house fire early Saturday morning, January 25, 2014. Mass of the Resurrection for Bill will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with Fr. C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday, January 31st from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 5:00 p.m. and Time of Remembrance beginning at 6:00 p.m. Visitation on Saturday will be one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Bill was born in Moorhead, MN, January 7, 1957, to William and Teresa (Dion) Hendrickx. He graduated from Moorhead High School in 1975. He went on to graduate from Moorhead Technical School with a degree in heating and air conditioning. After working in that field for several years, he returned to college and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science from NDSU, Fargo, ND. At the time of his death, he worked for USDA’s Farm Service Agency as a loan specialist in Devils Lake, ND. Bill’s attention to detail made him a talented hobby craftsman and mechanic. He enjoyed working on old tractors and motor vehicles. Bill could tear down a spent engine and rebuild it into a fine working machine. Bill always appreciated a good horse and a good dog, and had a fondness for cats. He found room in his heart for all animals. Bill was a fine team roper-preferring the role of healer, and enjoyed calf roping from the saddle of his favorite horse, Bugs. He was a member of the NDSU rodeo team during college, and participated in ranch rodeos and roping competitions until a few years ago when he developed tendinitis in his roping arm. At that time, where you saw Bill, you saw Shiloh, his faithful Springer spaniel, at his side. Recently Kit, a golden retriever, accompanied him. Sadly, Kit perished in the fire also. Bill was a quiet private man. His friendships were measured in quality and not quantity. His friends and family knew his moral compass was set on honesty, fairness, and doing the right thing with a single minded focus. These virtues aided him at his job and in the direction of his life. His family loved him deeply and he returned their love in his own special way. Bill developed diabetes as a child and dealt with the ramifications of it throughout his life. The family would like to extend a very special, grateful and heartfelt “Thank You” to Bill’s Devils Lake family and to coworkers for all the help they gave him. Private as he was, Bill may have never spoken those words to you, but we know they were in his heart as they surely are in ours. Bill is survived by his brothers and sisters and their families: Carmen Hendrickx, Fargo, ND, Louis and Cathy Hendrickx of Las Vegas, NV and their children Drew, Chet, and Leif; Jeff and Jolene Hendrickx, Bowman, ND and their children Beth and Tyler; and Jackie and Del Steckler, Moorhead, MN and their children Kasey and Shane; his Aunt Alice Doyle, and cousins Michele, Todd and Kevin and many cousins and other family. He was preceded in death by his parents William and Teresa and beloved Uncle Locklyn Doyle. Please direct any memorials to the American Diabetes Association-North Dakota at 1323 23rd Street South, Fargo, ND. 58301.