William "Bill" D. Pera
May 5, 1947 - August 28, 2011

"I worked at AmClyde and I remember Bill as being quietly competent sitting at his desk in the accounting department. He was a diligent co-worker, and easy to get along with. I'm sorry to hear of his passing. May his family be comforted knowing others truly cared about Bill, he certainly was one of the good guys."

"My earliest memories of Billy would have to be when he would pick Susie and I up at our home in Superior and take us to spend the weekend, holiday or summer with our Grandparents at the farm in Esko. Looking back... those road trips are probably where I found my appreciation for 60's classic rock today :) Through the years there were visits I always enjoyed. Catching up with each other in Texas, Mom and Dad's cabin for the family reunion and of course Forest Lake for the 4th of July party. As time marches on we remember the happy memories and good times. Peace be with you Billy. Love, Nancy"

"This is from niece Susie. When I was young I spent a lot of time at my Grandparents' farm in Esko. Billy (as he was known in my Mom's family) was only ten years older than I am and he was always kind enough to treat a pesky (I'm sure) niece like a little sister. I remember going to my first Twins game at the old Met with my Uncles Billy and David. The game itself has blurred over time and I don't remember who the Twins played or if they won. But I came home with a souvenir baseball with all the players' signatures on it. Over many, many years and moves I still have that baseball. I remember the excitement I felt at being included. Billy was a big Vikings fan too. He'd always sit in the same chair watching the game while grasping its wooden arms. During every exciting part he'd jump up while still holding onto the chair. Up it would go and then crashing down to the floor, while my Grandmother would be in the kitchen shaking her head. As a young man, he was interested in cars. I got my first (and only) Corvette rides with him in his black Corvette. He was very generous and kind to me and I so wish he would have had many more years, but it was not to be. My thoughts and prayers go out to Judy, Kim, John, and all the rest of Billy's family."

"i am Betty, Bill's sister. We always called him Billy. When he was small he loved to watch westerns and he would ask who are the good guys, I would answer the white hats were the good guys and the black hats the bad guys. I stayed at home when my husband Paul was in the service. Billy and Susie were very close. One time he put Susie's rattle on his forehead and it left a mark. So I put make-up on it before he went to school. He went fishing by papa's property and caught a trout. He was so excited, but it fell off the hook and he cried. When Forest Lake had their 4th of July parade, Arnie Carlson was on a float and Billy yelled at him,"shake my hand or I will not vote for you." Arnie jumped off the float and shook Billy's hand. We went on a motorhome trip with Billy and Judy. On the Great River Road and the U.P. And played bocci ball every night. Judy and Paul won every time. He enjoyed the U.P. The Finn street signs in Hancock, being Billy was Finish. We also enjoyed Viking games with brother Jerry and gang. Walt, Billy's friend said it best, "he was a very kind man, he would give the shirt off his back and if he did not have one he would buy one." I will miss you Billy and love you very much. "

" I'm David, Billy's older brother by almost four years. Obviously, I was shocked to hear of his death, and now after the funeral it is finally sinking in that he is gone. Before I launch into a few stories, I want to thank all the relatives and friends who attended the funeral to pay their respects. Also, thanks to the pastor who delivered a nice sermon and was so cordial. Now the events as I recall them, which may be of more interest to immediate family members. When my mother came home with Billy after he was born, she rocked him to sleep, often with me in the room in my little wooden rocking chair, one that has passed through virtually every family member and now is used by my grandson Hank. I vividly recall her rocking and singing, "Harbor Lights," one of her favorite songs that she sang to all four of us children in the family. We lived on a dairy farm and every summer my mother made home-made root beer, a favorite of all of us. When making hay she had bottles cooled in the milk house and after every load of hay Billy, at four and five years of age, would say, "That was hard work and I'm thirsty," and off he would dash for some root beer. Billy easily was the best athlete of us four children and the two of us often played catch and hit fly balls in the hay fields. Later when we were both adults I tried to play paddleball with him, which was futile. His serve was so stong that I couldn't return it, resulting in no challenge to him. When my parents built their retirement home in Esko, Billy perhaps worked more on the project other than my father. Although Billy was always reticent and expressed his feeling and emotions seldom, he had a very close relationship with both parents, and his actions demonstrated more than words could ever convey. Billy was a wonderful brother and I already miss him tremendously. I hope that Judy, his wife, and other relatives find peace in the coming months. Our father, "Chief" as we called him, always said people shouldn't talk too much when they have audiences and should just say, "That's all," after short speeches. Well, thanks for reading, and that's all. "