Obituary: William D. Birch of Wayzata

William D. Birch, 82, was born in Watertown, S.D. on Jan. 25, 1931 at the home of his parents, Robert Ingvald Birch (one of the most highly-decorated war heroes of World War I) and Ruby Faa Birch nee Blastervold.

Bill was the fourth and youngest child of his parents. A Dr. Hammond presided over his home delivery and not having a scale to weigh him, told his mother that he weighed “a good ten pounds.” He was born on a Sunday at 6:30 p.m. He often told friends or clients that having missed Sunday dinner on the day that he was born, he has been working to make up for it ever since. 

Upon hearing Bill tell that story, one client, when Bill weighed somewhere over 250 pounds said, “Well, it looks like you’ve done a good job making up for it!”

Bill was a proud graduate of Roosevelt High School, the University of Minnesota Business School and the University of Minnesota Law School. He served in the Army Counter Intelligence corps and was stationed at the Army Intelligence Center at Fort Holabird, Maryland. 

Bill’s great passions in life were his Norwegian heritage (100 percent Norwegian); sports (golf – Minnetonka Country Club and Hazeltine National Golf Club, basketball  (semi-pro in Baltimore), bowling and tennis); vocal music (Apollo Male Chorus), reading; movies (especially foreign films at the Uptown); the Lutheran church (St. John’s Lutheran, Central Lutheran, and Mount Olivet Lutheran); the turkey dinner at House of Wong in Maplewood and pies of all types from the 50’s Grill Restaurant in Brooklyn Center.

He practiced law in Minneapolis for more than 50 years, and he thoroughly enjoyed counseling his clients—including many non-profits and charities throughout his career. His larger than life presence, keen intelligence, wit, insightful advice, joyful laughter and ability to add to the conversation no matter what the topic will be greatly missed.

His three older siblings were Robert E. Birch (Louena), Byron E. Birch (Mae), and Shirley A. Lindblom (Maurice).  His parents and all three of his siblings pre-deceased him. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 50 years Carole J. Birch, son William D. Birch, Jr. (Dawn), and daughters Jennifer J. Belz (Scott), and Kathryn E. Gimse (Christopher) as well as grandsons Christian and Erik Belz and granddaughters Hanna, Hope, and Sage Carole Gimse. In addition to his immediate family, Bill is also survived by sister-in-law Mae Birch (Byron), brother-in-law Dr. Maurice Lindblom (Shirley) and many nieces and nephews including Jeffery Dean Birch (Karen) and Sarah Birch; Bob Birch (Chong Suk), Melody Carlson (Charles), Sally Eyberg (Don) and Mary Birch; Todd Lindblom (Karen), Lisa Lindblom, Scott Lindblom (Anne), and Ann Keenan (Tim).

A service of remembrance will be held on Tuesday, July 9, at 11:30 am. Visitation with the family will precede the service at 10:30 am and a lunch will follow at 12:30 pm. Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, 7150 Rolling Acres Road, Victoria, MN 55331.