W.H. "Bill" McGregor Obituary (1944

W.H. (Bill) McGregor 76, Bismarck, passed away Thursday January 7, 2021 at St. Alexius. A memorial service will be held at 11:00am, Friday, January 15, 2021 at DaWise-Perry/Mandan Crematory, Mandan (4211 Old Red Trail, Mandan). Friends and family will gather one hour prior to the service. There will be no viewing as cremation has taken place. Burial will be at a later date. Bill was born September 29, 1944 at Bismarck, ND to Archie and Anna (Rowell) McGregor. He was raised with nine siblings in the Fort Yates/Selfridge ND area until his senior year when they moved to New Salem, ND where he graduated in 1962. Bill married Mona Schwinkendorf in 1963. In 1964 his first daughter Angel J was born and in 1967 his second daughter Andrea Jayne followed. They later divorced. In 1971 he married Kay Swayze in McIntosh, SD. In 1973 Scott Patrick was born followed by Kelly Rae in 1977. In 1978 they moved to Dickinson, ND where the twins Bonnie Sue and Michael Paul were born in 1979. Bill's career in livestock feed sales took the family to several places. In the spring of 1985 they moved to Walhalla, ND where he was the purchasing agent for Dawn Enterprises Ethanol Plant. In January of 1990 Bill started his 31 years of sobriety. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Broadus/Ashland, MT. He followed his lifelong dream of living in MT working with cattle and horses. Bill and Kay lived in the Ashland area until 2012 when he developed some serious health issues and moved to Bismarck. At a very young age Bill's musical talent was evident. He got his start singing and playing guitar at local talent shows and music contests taking first place and superior ratings most of the time. All his friends and family members loved to hear his voice and asked him to sing at weddings, funerals and countless events. He would often tell stories of bands sneaking him into play with them when he was not old enough. He was a member of several country music bands in his life. He passed along his talents to all of his kids and loved to have jam sessions with them, his siblings, his many nieces and nephews and friends. Bill played many instruments including guitar, piano and saxophone rarely looking at a piece of sheet music. Anyone who knew him knew his extreme passion and love for good music. Bill is survived by his wife Kay, his children Angel Stanhope, Andrea (Kevin) Martin, Scott (Jill) McGregor, Kelly McGregor, Bonnie (Derek) Braun, Mike McGregor, his grandkids, Kera (Brady) Reich, Alyssa and Kathryn Martin, Connor and Gannon McGregor, Nolan Behrens, Carter, Audrey Emaree Braun, Preston and Hadley McGregor; one great grandson Draeke Stanhope. Five sisters Rosemary Stetzler, Marlys Dahlvang, Ellen McGregor, Trish (Jay) Danielowski and Trudi (Wayne) McKinney, three sisters-in-law, Evelyn McGregor and Julie McGregor, Lani (JB) Ferguson, Brothers-in-law Ron Berg, Al (Sharon) Swayze, Warren (Susie) Swayze and so many nieces and nephews who adored "Uncle Bill". He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers Jim, Leslie and Leon McGregor, one sister Anita Anderson, sister-in-law Barb Berg, daughter-in-law Melissa McGregor and son-in-law Ed Stanhope.