Bill Atwater

About Bill

William (Bill) Jon Atwater of Bemidji passed away unexpectedly at Sanford Medical Center in Bemidji on Monday August 29th, 2022, at the age of 61.

Bill was born and raised in Warroad Minnesota until he graduated high school and moved in 1979. He married Cindy MaDoll on Sept. 2nd, 1979 and had their daughter Theresa Jan. 27th 1980. Later they divorced.

He went to pursue his training in Law Enforcement in Alexandria and Hibbing and got his license in June of 1983. He was a Police Chief doing patrols and reports in Kensington in 1980. He worked in Thief River Falls as a Police Officer from 1983-84 and then part time Deputy Sheriff from 1985-1988.

He worked multiple jobs before he settled in with the Beltrami County Sheriffs Department as a Deputy Sheriff in 1988 until he retired in April 2012 after serving a total of 29 years in all. He was also a volunteer firefighter with Bemidji for 19 years. During that time, he had a daughter Isabelle on Oct 19th, 1999, with his partner at the time Jodi Carlson.

He briefly worked at Marvin Windows and Luekens in his earlier years. The last ten years working with Beltrami County Sheriffs Department, he was a civil process server which prompted him to start his own business, Headwaters Legal Service, doing civil processing on his own up until the day he passed away. Bill and Krysti married 12-12-12 at 12:12pm, and were together 18 years before he passed away.

He enjoyed traveling, camping, cuddling on the couch with his dogs and wife watching movies, playing with the bees, going to the shooting range, playing guitar, going to concerts, weightlifting, woodworking, cooking, yearly golf trip with friends, spending time with grandkids and family, and playing on dart leagues.

He belonged to the Masonic Organization, and member of FOP and NRA. He helped start a peer group to help people with addictions and was very proud and passionate about it.

Bill is survived by his wife Krysti Atwater of Bemidji; two daughters Theresa (Kurt) Thiemecke of Bemidji, and Isabella Carlson-Atwater of the Twin Cities; 2 stepdaughters Kandi (Mark) Jenson of Bemidji and Amber (Shane) Vareburg of Red Lake Falls, 2 stepsons Bart (Tanya) Glatzmaier of Bemidji and Wylli (Marissa) Tschudi of Bemidji; 16.5 grandchildren; three sisters Jonel (Rodney) Axtel, Sarah (Bob) O’Dier, Susan Kaufmann; one brother Steve (Vicky) Atwater; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents Bruce and Ellen Atwater; brother in-law Randy Kaufmann, son in-law Jesse Holleman, niece Jocelyn Axtell and nephew Cole Davis.

memorial service

Funeral Services for Bill

September 12, 2022

The Evangelical Covenant Church 5405 Hart Ln NW, Bemidji, MN 56601, USA

There will be a visitation from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Sunday, September 11, 2022 at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji and one hour prior to the service at church on Monday.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home