William "Bill" Edward Kelm

William “Bill” Kelm, 76, of Bemidji, MN died Thursday, June 18, 2026 at his home.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at Northern Bible Church, Bemidji. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

William “Bill” Edward Kelm was born on September 16, 1949, to Jack and Wilma Kelm. He was the third of ten children and spent his childhood in Bemidji, attending Northern School before graduating from Bemidji High School in 1968.

After graduation, Bill worked as a cement truck driver for ten years. On August 31, 1974, he married the love of his life, Connie Petron. In 1975, Bill began driving truck for his father, hauling wood to local mills, a job he enjoyed for many years until health challenges led to both knees being replaced. In addition to trucking, Bill raised cattle and spent countless hours helping his father in the fields.

Together, Bill and Connie raised three children: Kristi (Trent) Larson, Jason (Randon) Kelm, and Kyle (Kaylee) Kelm. Family was at the center of Bill’s life. Summers were often spent participating in 4-H, where all three children proudly showed animals at the county fair. He was also the first person in the stands to watch the 4-H livestock shows, watching his grandkids win grand champions.  Bill also gave back to the community by coaching 4-H softball for many years.

Bill had a deep love for the outdoors. He was an avid fisherman and dedicated more than 35 years to volunteering with Fishing Has No Boundaries, helping others experience the joy of fishing. He cherished camping trips with his family and created many lasting memories around campfires and lakeshores.

Hunting was another lifelong passion. Over the years, Bill hunted moose in Canada alongside his father, brother, and uncle, and hunted elk in Idaho and Colorado with his brothers, sons, and friends. In April 2025, he enjoyed the trip of a lifetime to South Africa, where he hunted with his sons, grandsons, and friends, harvesting four different exotic animals.

Whether he was behind the wheel of a truck, in a hunting blind, on a fishing boat, or spending time with family, Bill found joy in simple moments and the people he loved most.

Bill will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by his wife, Connie, of nearly 52 years; his children, Kristi (Trent) Larson, Jason (Randon) Kelm, and Kyle (Kaylee) Kelm; and his grandchildren, Thor, Kaleb, and Gabby Kelm, and Tucker and Ali Larson. He is also survived by his brothers, sisters, extended family, and many friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Wilma Kelm; his brothers, Fred and Daniel Kelm; and his infant son, Billy Joe Kelm.

Bill’s legacy of hard work, dedication to family, love of the outdoors, and willingness to help others will be remembered by all who knew him.

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