William “Bill” Richard Woods, 65, of Linton, N.D., died May 11, 2009, at his home with Judy at his side.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church, Linton, with the Rev. Cori Waisanen officiating.  Bill was born May 31, 1943, to Carl and Ellen (Coordes) Woods in Bismarck, N.D.
The family moved to Linton in the spring of 1947, where Bill was raised and educated. He graduated from Linton High School in 1961. He worked for Braaten Appliance in Bismarck for a year before attending the State School of Science in Wahpeton, earning his degree in refrigeration and air conditioning.  After graduation, he spent most of his career working in North Dakota and Albert Lea.
He was diagnosed with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and was disabled in 1989, and moved to Hazelton to be closer to his family. By 1994, Bill was on oxygen 20 hours a day and by 1995, his breathing had deteriorated to the point of needing a LVRS (lung volume reduction surgery). For several years he didn’t need the oxygen anymore, but by 2002, he was put on a transplant list. Bill received his double lung transplant on June 27, 2004. He always said he “didn’t expect a miracle, he just wanted a chance.” He got a miracle! By July 15, he was off the oxygen completely and was out of the hospital by July 20. It was truly a miracle.
During this time, he met the “love of his life,” Judy Rice, and they happily spent most of the rest of Bill’s life together, touring the country and meeting people with COPD or lung transplant recipients. As Bill’s lungs began to deteriorate once again, Judy was by his side, supporting him and encouraging him to live life to the fullest. Bill quietly passed away at his home on May 11, 2009, with Judy at his side.
Grateful to have shared his life are his brother, Ben of Linton, N.D.; his sister, Carol (Phillip) Humann of Hazelton, N.D.; his brother-in-law: Lew (Dona) Marquardt; seven nieces and nephews: Kathy (Bob) Weil, Mark (Nanette) Marquardt, David (Anne) Marquardt, Steven (Misty) Marquardt, Gregory (Steffanie) Marquardt, Janeen (Paul) Cervinski, Kyle (Kimberly) Humann; 13 grand nieces and nephews; the “love of his life,” Judy Rice; “daughter,” Rose (Doron) Fields and two “grandchildren.” Bill was preceded in death by his parents: Carl and Ellen Woods; his sisters: Judith Marquardt and Ellen Jane Woods. We lay to rest a kind, gentle, unassuming soul, who quietly touched our hearts and will remain there forever. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to COPD International, 131 SW Highway #627, Nashua, NH 03060 or 2nd Wind, 3440 Halliday Ave, St. Louis, MO 63118. In memory of William “Bill” Woods.
Go to www.myersfh.com to share memories of Bill and to sign the online guestbook.