William "Bill" Peter Studer
September 7, 1930 - November 23, 2023

Studer, William Peter "Bill", loving husband of Edna for 64 years, and father of four, passed away peacefully on November 23, 2023, in Lakeville MN at the age of 93.

Bill was born in Farmington on September 7, 1930, to Amandus and Hazel (Finn) Studer, and was raised in Lakeville MN.

Bill graduated from Lakeville High School in 1948, and continued to work on the family farm until he joined the Air Force in 1956. While in the Air Force, he met the love of his life, Edna LeGate, on a blind date at Arizona State University, and they were married at the University chapel on June 6th, 1959.

Bill retired from active duty as a fighter pilot later in 1959, staying active in the Air Force Reserves until the mid-70s.

Bill brought his new bride back to Lakeville and again began working on the family farm. He then was hired as a pilot with North Central Airlines, and stayed with them through mergers as Republic Airlines, and then Northwest Airlines until he retired from flying in 1986.

Bill's love of farming ran deep, and he never stopped being a farmer. He and Edna purchased the family farm in 1966, building a home for his family there not far from his parents' home. The family farm continued to be a gathering place for all of Amandus and Hazel's descendants, and Bill and Edna put in a lot of effort to make everyone feel welcome.

He was an avid collector of farm equipment, especially old Allis Chalmers tractors and loved going to farm auctions. When the family farm was sold in 2003 and he 'retired', he then rented a nearby farm and continued to raise sweet corn and tend a large vegetable garden. While he raised a variety of crops over the years, he became known as the guy who had 'the best sweet corn' and continued to grow sweet corn to sell and give away until well into his eighties.

Bill was proud of his time serving in the Air Force, as well as his career as a commercial pilot. He flew many different single and multi-engine planes during his flying days, including the T-6 Texan, T-28 Trojan, T-34 Mentor, T-38 Talon, F-80 Shooting Star, F-84 Thunderjet, F-86 Sabre, F-100 Super Sabre, A-20 Invader, DC-3, Convair 580, DC-9, MD-80, and 727. Later in his life he acquired an F-86H and donated it to the City of Lakeville, where it became part of the Veteran's Memorial at Aronson Park.

Aside from his family, Bill's true passion was golf, and he completed his last round in July of 2023. His home office was filled with many golf trophies, and he was especially proud of his time playing in the airline world championship in 1973, as well as many rounds on some of the top courses in the world (including shooting par on a blustery day on the old course at St. Andrews when he was in his fifties).

Bill was the 10th of Amandus and Hazel's 14 children and was the last living member of that mighty clan. He was preceded in death by his parents Amandus and Hazel; siblings, Eugene, Robert (Rosario "Chari"), James, Patricia (Sidney) Miller, Donna (Phil) Paulak, Marge, Phyllis, Joan, Mary Ann, Thomas (Claire), Dorothy "Dot" (Dick) Lorentson, Dennis, and an infant sister.

He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Edna; children, Debbie (Merly) Larson, Margie, Jim (Tami), and Rob (Colleen); grandchildren, Marah, Jenna, Max, Hannah (Alex), Keara, Taryn (Patrick), Derek, Kendra (Chris), and Casey (Lee); great grandchildren, Cora, Gabriel, Samuel, Bree, Abby, Aiden, and Ethan; sisters-in-law, Chari, and Claire Studer, and also by many nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday December 1, 2023, at 11:30 AM at All Saints Catholic Church, 19795 Holyoke Ave., Lakeville with a visitation on Thursday November 30 from 4-7 PM at the White Funeral Home, Lakeville (952-469-2723), and 1 hour prior to Mass at the church.

Interment, All Saints cemetery, Lakeville, Minnesota.

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