It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of William Joseph (Bill, Billy) Wood, 95. He passed away in the early morning hour of September 21, 2026, at Sanford Medical Center with his wife by his side.

Bill was born in Denning, Arkansas to James and Georgia (Nichols) Wood. His family moved to Waterloo, IA when Bill started school. He graduated from high school and then attended a year at Wartburg College.

In 1969, Bill moved his family from Waterloo to Bismarck, ND and Bill made one of the biggest decisions of his career when he decided to enter the restaurant business. He opened a King’s Food Host location off State Street in Bismarck, North Dakota. The restaurant quickly became a local and regional favorite, known not only for its great food but also for its unique phone-ordering system, which allowed customers to place their orders directly from their booths.

Around 1978–1979, the King’s Food Host chain experienced financial difficulties, ultimately resulting in the closure of its locations across the country. The Bismarck location was the exception. Bill decided to continue operating the restaurant independently, briefly renaming it The Wood Host Restaurant before eventually establishing it as The Woodhouse Restaurant.

Bill always credited the restaurant’s success with three simple principles: serving good food, good service, and maintaining a clean restaurant. These values remained at the heart of The Woodhouse throughout his 48-year legacy.

After nearly five decades in the restaurant business, Bill was incredibly proud of what he had built and the lasting impact The Woodhouse had on the Bismarck community. In 2018, after 48 years at the helm, Bill finally retired—a milestone he was proud to reach and, in many ways, relieved to embrace.

Bill was a proud American patriot who served in the US Navy.

Bill’s golf career was also something he was incredibly proud of. A late starter to the game, Bill didn’t pick up golf until the age of 42, but once he did, he never looked back. What began later in life quickly became one of his greatest passions and a source of countless memories and accomplishments.

Over the years, Bill accomplished things that most golfers can only dream about. Bill was fortunate enough to shoot his age or better more than 500 times during his career—an incredible accomplishment achieved by fewer than 1% of golfers. As a long-time member of Apple Creek Country Club, Bill was a four-time Club Champion. He was also a three-time North Dakota State Senior Champion and a USGA Senior Amateur qualifier. Along the way, he recorded multiple holes-in-one, with his aces coming everywhere from Bismarck, North Dakota, to Oro Valley, Arizona.

Bill was also honored to be selected as a USGA Rules Official, a role that gave him the privilege of working numerous NCAA National Championships throughout his career. One of his favorite stories was from his time as a starter, when he had the opportunity to meet Tiger Woods while Tiger was playing at Stanford University.

Bill also had the privilege of working countless USGA Senior Amateur Championships, allowing him to continue his love of the game while contributing to some of the most prestigious events in amateur golf. These experiences gave Bill the opportunity to meet and work alongside some of the best golfers in the country and created many memories that he cherished throughout his life.

In 1990, Bill was inducted into the North Dakota Golf Hall of Fame, an honor that meant a tremendous amount to him and one he was incredibly proud of. His passion for the game also gave him the opportunity to play alongside some of the best players in the sport and meet many golfing legends who, like Bill, had left their mark on the game.

Bill’s competitiveness on the course was legendary. It didn’t matter if he was playing in his prime or taking his final swings—he always believed he could compete. He never lost that competitive edge, and golf was always about more than just the score. It was about the challenge, the camaraderie, and, of course, the occasional frustration.

One of Bill’s favorite sayings was, “You don’t care about your golf game if you don’t throw a club.” Anyone who knew Bill and watched him play knows there was probably a little truth behind that.

There’s no doubt in our minds that Bill has a tee time booked for every day of the year up above—and knowing Bill, he’s probably already trying to get on the course early.

Bill also had a deep passion for waterfowl hunting. In fact, he loved it so much that he would hunt right up until the very last day of the season in January. There were many mornings when temperatures dipped below zero, yet you could still find Bill sitting patiently in his field blind, waiting for mallards and Canada geese to arrive.

On many of those brutally cold mornings, his neighbors would look outside in the early hours and see Bill loading his decoy trailer and truck, probably wondering what kind of person would willingly head out to hunt in such miserable conditions. But that was Bill. The cold, the early mornings, and the long hours never seemed to bother him. If there were birds to be hunted, Bill was going.

One of the greatest parts of Bill's passion for waterfowl hunting was being able to share it with his stepson, Chris. Bill introduced Chris to duck hunting when Chris was just 10 years old, and for the next 30 years, the two of them were fortunate enough to share some of the greatest duck hunts a person could ask for.

For Bill and Chris, it was never just about limiting out or how many birds they brought home. It was about the time they spent together, the early mornings, the long conversations, the laughs, and the one-on-one time that created a bond that went far beyond hunting. Those hunts gave them 30 years of memories that Chris will carry with him forever.

Bill was also very adamant that you never shoot hens. If someone in the group accidentally shot a hen, you were going to hear about it. His passion for hunting went far beyond simply filling a limit. Bill cared deeply about respecting the outdoors and doing his part to ensure that the future of hunting in North Dakota remained strong.

He believed in respecting the land, respecting the wildlife, and only shooting what you intended to eat. Just ask Chris about the time he shot a porcupine. Bill was not happy. He wanted to know why Chris would shoot an animal that wasn't a danger to wildlife and, in Bill's words, was simply a herbivore.

That was Bill. He loved the outdoors, respected the wildlife, and believed that hunting was about much more than pulling the trigger. For him, it was about the experience, the people he shared it with, and preserving the tradition he loved for generations to come.

Bill married Pat Dockter October 8, 2021 after a 34 year "engagement". You know Bill, he had to ponder and think awhile before he took the leap. They enjoyed traveling, casinos, AZ winters, baseball, basketball, golf and football. He was a dedicated Arizona Wildcats, NDSU Bison and Minnesota Twins and Vikings fan. Never missed watching a game.

Bill leaves behind his loving wife, Pat; stepson, Chris Hulm and his wife Patty; son-in-law, Robert Moreland; grandchildren, Michael and wife Amy Moreland and Matthew Moreland, Tim and wife Jackie Wood, Devin and wife Mandie Wood, Brekka Hulm, Jaxon Hulm, Henry Teagle; and great-grandchildren, Mac Moreland, Tristin Wood, Trevin Wood, Ella Wood. He also leaves behind a special cousin in Fair Oaks, CA - Bette Jean Pearson.

He was preceded in death by his three children, Teresa Moreland, Tim Wood, and Todd Wood; his stepdaughter, Jessy Hulm; and his parents.

A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 2 at Eastgate Funeral Service, 3117 E Century Ave, Bismarck. The family will greet guests one hour prior.

A private burial will be held in the Spring at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck. 

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Dakota Junior Golf Association or a charity of your choice.