Bill Brunton

Bill was a curious and knowledgeable person with a deep interest in Anthropology, specifically cultures and the world around him.  He enjoyed wine, lively conversation, and was known for his quick wit and direct sense of humor - rarely at a loss for words. 

With the many hobbies he enjoyed, he never failed to work towards perfection.  When his interest in flying was piqued, he went to work putting in the hours to learn, building his own flight simulator at home to practice and study until he was able to obtain his pilot’s license.  When he dove into the world of a luthier, he spent months building each guitar.  He would take notes throughout this process and find new ways to broaden the sound or bring different woods to life. After 50 years of building, he was still making changes and experimenting, striving to make the best guitars he could. 

As his palette for wine grew, he amassed a large collection of wines and hosted regular wine-tasting gatherings. He always knew the perfect pairing of wine for any meal and could call out the different notes in each sip.  He was always ready to prepare unique food from around the world for a gathering. Most of these recipes he would test repeatedly on his own before ever including it on the menu, just to be sure that he’d get it perfect when he was making it for someone else.

Bill’s curious mind also took him around the world. Some of these trips were for pleasure, but many were for his love of anthropology. He was quick to pick up on accents, dialects, and physical traits of the people around him, and enjoyed striking up conversation about what part of the world they were from. This was where his passion for teaching would shine, and he would recall the peoples and cultures from that part of the world as if he had lived there his entire life. 

Bill also had an affection for Shelties and owned many throughout his lifetime, including Studly, Magruder and McGregor, McDough, Sunny, and now Buddy.

Whether it was working in his guitar shop, sailing across the lake, flying through the skies, or making the perfect dish and wine pairing, at the center was spending as much time as possible with family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Humane Society in his memory.

https://give.animalhumanesociety.org/campaign/780705/donate

Burial: Friday, May 8, 2026 at 10:00 AM at Holy Cross Cemetery South, Fargo, ND.

Reception:  Friday, May 8, after the burial at Bill's House.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

West Fargo, ND 58078

westfuneralhome.com

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