Paul William "Will" Atherton

Paul W. “Will” Atherton, 73 of Lakota, ND passed away early Sunday morning, February 19, 2017 at his home in the loving care of his family and Altru Hospice.  Paul William Atherton was born in Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake North Dakota on September 12, 1943 to Paul and Alice (Bymers) Atherton, the first child for this loving couple. They raised him on the farm in Ramsey County and he was soon joined by Patricia, Sheryl, Jacqueline, Randy, Janie, and Barry. He was their confidante, protector, tormenter, and friend. His death February 19, 2017, after a lengthy illness, leaves a big hole in all who loved him.      Will, or Willie to the kids, attended school in Devils Lake, graduating from Central High School with the class of 1961. From there, he served in the US Navy on the USS Midway as a boiler man stationed with the 7th Fleet at Alameda Naval Air Station in California. Not an easy role, he was a gifted machinist that kept the boat afloat, including during a Pacific tour off the coast of Japan. Upon discharge in 1963, he returned home to North Dakota, attending Hanson Auto School in Fargo and working as a mechanic in the area until a return to Antioch, California in 1966, near extended family and old friends. He enjoyed that excitement until 1969, when his young family decided to return “home” to North Dakota once again to raise their newborn son near Grandma and all his aunts and uncles. Paul, III, the absolute pride and joy of Will’s life, deserved the very best a father could give him.      Will was a hard worker and lived out loud, enjoying many friends and adventures. But in 1977, a birthday he celebrated more than the date of his birth, Will chose sobriety and truly seized the life he was meant to live. He became a teacher at Little Hoop Community College, inspiring others with his connections and humor. His students remained his friends long after completing his classes. It was during this time he met the true love he’d been searching for, Linda Hilliard Solberg.      Will and Linda met when he stopped into Superpumper while she was working, then asked her for their first date March 8, 1998. They married two years later on October 13, 2000. They lived briefly in Devils Lake before settling in their comfortable home in Lakota by the end of the year, complete with his dream garage, where they lived until his death. Despite his ill health, he still managed to make it out to his garage and work on engines or just shoot the breeze with friends or his growing network of nieces and nephews, many of whom had a safe vehicle, or the knowledge to fix their own, compliments of Uncle Will. He even made the effort to admire his Dodge Ram pick-up up close, even if for only a few miles at a time.      Will was preceded in death by his dad, Paul, Sr, in 1963, and mom, Alice in 2012; also by brother, Randy, in 1996, and sister, Patsy, in 2003. His legacy continues in his loving wife, Linda, and their children and grandchildren: Paul (Paulette) and Alexis, Brandice, and Cole; Mark (Patty) and Lilly, Eli, and Cody; Julie (Jason) and Tyler and Connor; Lisa (Brad) and Taylor and Collin. His siblings will miss him dearly: Sheryl, Jacque (Jim), Janie (Mark), and Barry (Carrie) and brother-in-law, Ed, and sister-in-law, Carna. He is also survived by nieces and nephews Lori, Michael, Rachel, Betty, Jolene, Jessica, Matthew, Clint, Jimmy, Stephanie, Joshua, Adam, Nathan, Kristen, Charles, Stephanie, Brianna, Paul Sterling, Brandon, Meghan, and Monda. “Always remember, there is nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name…”      Please join family and friends in celebrating Will’s life and legacy. Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, February 27, 3 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Devils Lake, with Rev. Lori Broschat officiating. Burial will be at the Devils Lake Cemetery with Military Honors accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Visitation is Sunday from 3-5 pm, with family service to follow at 5 pm at Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake.      Great-nephew, Dylan, will join nephews Joshua, Adam, Nathan, Paul Sterling, and Brandon as pallbearers. Honorary Bearers are Will's grandchildren.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are greatly appreciated and will be used to help the Atherton family with medical expenses. God bless you all.