William Benedict Norcross, Mae-Kwam-Me-Won-Gae, 90, of Detroit Lakes, Minn., formerly of Ponsford, Minn., died on Monday, Feb. 26, 2007, at St. Mary's Nursing Center in Detroit Lakes.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Theodore's Catholic Church in Ponsford with Rev. Mietek Bajek, OMI, officiating. Burial will be in St. Theodore's Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 p.m. on Friday until the time of the service on Saturday at the Old Pine Point School in Ponsford. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. The David-Donehower Funeral Home of Detroit Lakes assisted the family with arrangements.
He was born on May 18, 1916, to George and Josephine (Lightening) Norcross, in White Earth, Minn. He was raised and educated in Ponsford. He served with the United States Army in the South Pacific during World War II. Following his discharge from the Army, he returned to Ponsford. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he lived in Oakland, Calif., where he worked as a forest ranger.
He enjoyed his grandchildren and family. He loved traditional dancing, hunting and being in the woods. He taught the Ojibwe language.
He is survived by his daughters, Genevieve Adams and Marlene (Tim) Schulman, both of Bemidji; sons, William Jr. (Jacque) of Bemidji and Charles (Kimberley) of Champlain, Minn.; sisters, Ivy (Harry) Ailport and Maxine Ennega, both of White Earth; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
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He was preceded in death by his sons, Donald James and Ronald K.; daughter, Mary Ann; wife, Eunice; brothers, Victor J., Myron and George; sisters, Genevieve and Lillian Litzau-Warren.
