Billy Jackson

Billy E. Jackson, 89, Bismarck, passed away on February 22, 2025. 

A memorial service will be held at the Bismarck Funeral Home on Friday, March 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM. Interment will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. 

Billy was born October 22, 1935 in Knoxville, Tennessee to Bonnie and Felix Jackson. He was the third born, preceded by Maxine and Robert, and followed by Joyce. Billy graduated from Young High School in Knoxville in 1953. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1954 and began a lifelong series of travel and moves. Air Force duty stations included Texas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Bermuda, California, Christmas Island, and Hawaii. He worked as an airborne radar repairman.

While in Bermuda, he met Donna Glaspey, a Registered Nurse from Canada, working there. Later, Bill and Donna both transferred to California, and were married July 20, 1961 in Sacramento. Bill was discharged from the Air Force and entered college in 1962. The family grew when Douglas Alan was born in 1964, followed by Nancy Lynn in 1966, and then Michael Aaron in 1970. Linda Elaine and Thomas Edward were born from a previous marriage.

He continued college studies while working his career in construction. He worked for the State of California for eight years, followed by several years in Colorado. He then joined the US Bureau of Reclamation and the family moved to North Dakota. He worked at several locations in North Dakota (Harvey, Oakes and Bismarck) with brief assignments in Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Montana and Oklahoma. 

After retiring from the USBR, Billy worked on multiple FEMA disasters around North Dakota. He also devoted considerable time to a crafting business building Grist Mill related products and selling them in the Fall at the Dollywood Park in Tennessee.

The family enjoyed gardening, camping, fishing, golf, travel, and time spent at their lake cottage in Minnesota. He confessed lake life was amongst his happiest moments. 

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Donna; daughter, Nancy; parents; sister, Maxine; brother, Robert; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

He is survived by sons, Douglas, Michael, Thomas and daughter, Linda; grandchildren, Connor, Grace, and Emma, plus many nieces and nephews.