William W. (Bill) Saholt, 96, died at Saint Marys Hospital on Aug. 8, 2012. He was a very special and devoted husband and father and a man of great faith.

Bill was born July 9, 1916, in Rochester, Minn., the son of Harry and Jessie Saholt. He had attended local schools and was a graduate of Rochester High School in the class of 1934. He was employed with the Midway Grocery for several years before entering a National Defense Training Program for machine operators. After graduation he was employed with the Minneapolis-Moline Defense Plant in Minneapolis. After Pearl Harbor, he entered the Army and served in the South Pacific until February 1945, at which time he received an Honorable Discharge.

Returning to Rochester, he purchased the Midway grocery and operated the store until receiving an appointment with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a meat inspector in November 1947. He was assigned to the Hormel Plant in Austin, Minn., where he remained until his retirement in July 1975. He taught Sunday school to senior high youth at Faith United Methodist Church when he first moved to Austin. He was also president of the Men’s Bible Study. He returned to Rochester in 1976 where he studied for a real estate license and after being licensed, he sold real estate until 1979, when he moved to Whitefish, Mont.

He had been a member of the Evangel United Methodist Church in Rochester, the Faith United Methodist Church in Austin, the American Legion in Austin, a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, the Whitefish Golden Agers, the National Rifle Association, the VFW, the First Presbyterian Church in Whitefish and had been a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish. Bill was an avid NASCAR fan, and he looked forward to playing leisure games of golf every spring.

On March 14, 1945, he married Onalee Peckham in Rochester and was preceded in death by her on April 10, 1971. Four daughters blessed this union and they now survive him, Barbara (James) Ebert of Dent, Minn., Susan Saholt of Kasson, Minn., Carolyn (Dale) Reinecke of Byron, Minn., and Elaine (Rod) French of Dodge Center, Minn.; eight loving grandchildren, Jessica Ebert, Christy (Bobby) Vrtis, Paul (Karissa) Finley, Matthew Finley, Alicia Reinecke and fiancée Andy Johnson, Joe Wernecke and special friend Tasa Kostel, Calli (Greg) Giesler and Rick (Jes) French; seven special great-grandchildren, Corbin Giesler, Cale Giesler, Greta Giesler, Taryn Wernecke, Brayden French and Emma French.

In 1972, Bill married Joyce Ratzloff who preceded him in death in 1973.

He is survived by his present wife, Ruth VanderSchaff Saholt whom he married in February 1980. Also surviving are four stepsons, John Ratzloff of Minneapolis, Dick (Marcia) VanderSchaff of Portland, Ore., Stephen (Deb) VanderSchaff of St. Paul, Minn., and James (Sandy) VanderSchaff of Whitefish, Mont.; one brother-in-law, Russell Pries of Eyota, Minn.; and cousins, Ray Saholt of Rochester, Minn., and Eileen Dillehay of Rochester, Minn. He is preceded in death by two sisters; his parents; and two wives.

Bill will be remembered for his love for God, his gentle and caring spirit and his love for his family. Bill will be greatly missed by family and friends.

During his lifetime he gained his strength from the verse in Philippians “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

His daughters wish to thank all the staff at Madonna Meadows for the wonderful care and love they gave their dad while he lived there.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, Aug. 13, 2012, at 2 p.m. at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes with the Rev. Justin Boeding officiating. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, at Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Homes and one hour prior to the service on Monday. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Rochester.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes is located at 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester, MN 55901. Contact the funeral home at (507) 289-3600 or visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.