William "Bill" Joseph Corrigan

William “Bill” Corrigan, 84, of Bemidji, MN died Sunday, June 14, 2026 at his home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 4:00 p.m., Friday, June 19, 2026 at St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Bemidji. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Thursday, June 18, 2026 at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji and one hour prior to the service at the church.

William “Bill” Joseph Corrigan, Jr. was born August 31, 1941 in Bemidji, MN, son of William and Ardis (Iverson) Corrigan.  Bill attended St. Philip’s Elementary School from Kindergarten through 8th grade, graduated from Bemidji High School in 1959, graduated from Bemidji State College in 1963 with a teaching degree in Social Studies and Journalism, then attended St. Cloud State College to obtain a Language Arts Degree.

Bill married his high school sweetheart, Mary Lee Brune, at St. Phillip’s Church in Bemidji on July 20, 1963. They have one son David (Sarah) Corrigan.  Bill taught at Longville, Milaca, and Clearbrook High Schools before accepting a position at Red Lake High School where he taught for 31 years.  Bill was also a multi-licensed insurance agent for 16 years working part time and summers for the Corrigan Insurance Agency, Bemidji.

During the early seventies Bill had the privilege of serving on the Governors Crime Commission being appointed by Gov. Wendell Anderson.  He also served as president of the Red Lake Federation of Teachers when the new Collective Bargaining law was being negotiated and implemented by teachers and school districts in Minnesota.

Bill was an avid fisherman and hunter, and enjoyed lake trout fishing in Canada with son David every summer and deer hunting in the fall. 

Bill is survived by his wife Mary Lee of 62 years, son David (Sarah) Corrigan, sister Sydney Corrigan, brother Michael (Brenda) Corrigan, brothers-in-law Richard (Carol) Brune, Jon (Rachel) Brune, sisters-in-law Judy (Ray) Ferry, Kristine (Brian) Ross and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother, father, uncle Emmett “Bud” Corrigan, and brothers-in-law Michael Brune and Thomas Brune. 

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