Willis "Bill" Mouw

A Celebration of Life for Bill Mouw of Baudette,  MN will be held on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 12:00PM at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Baudette, MN. Church doors will be open one hour prior to the service. Interment will take place at Carp Cemetery at a later date.

Willis Bentley Mouw, 94, of Baudette, MN, passed away on February 11, 2025. 

He was born on January 9, 1931, in Sheldon, IA to Benjamin W. Mouw and Johanna (Gesink) Mouw. Willis graduated from St. Ansgar High School in Iowa in 1949. He attended Macalester College in Minneapolis for one year, studying pre-med, then earned his tool and die degree from Dunwoody Technical School in 1954. His diverse career included 14 years as a tool and die maker, six years owning and operating the Baudette Laundry, and 32 years of farming before his retirement in 1998.

A dedicated community servant, Willis served as a Lake of the Woods County Commissioner for 12 years (1977-1990) and was Master of the local Masonic Lodge. He was one of the founding members of the Senior Boat organization and generously volunteered his time at the Brink Center and delivered senior meals. He was a proud member of the First Congregational Church of Baudette.

Willis married Bette Jean Parr on October 17, 1952, in Canton, SD. Together, Bill and Bette spent their winters traveling extensively, visiting numerous countries and all but two of the United States. An avid hunter and fisherman, Willis particularly enjoyed taking family and friends out on his boat and serving as captain for senior boat trips.

Willis is preceded in death by his parents Benjamin and Johanna Mouw; son Barry Mouw and sister Shirley Mouw Koster.

He is survived by his wife Bette J. Parr Mouw; daughters Jo Ellen Howard of Baudette, MN and Jeanne (John) Davel of Stratford, WI; brother Gene (Lynne) Mouw of St. Ansgar, IA; grandsons Joshua Tall, Brodi Lund, Yakub Mujaahid, Jesse Tall, Jon Tall, and Michael, Jon, and Isaac Howard as well as many special nieces and nephews.  

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