William “Billy” Lester Gesell was born April 21, 1939 to parents William and Inez Solberg Gesell in Bagley, Minnesota. He attended school in Bagley and graduated from Bagley High School in 1957.

He enlisted in the National Guard and served at Fort Ord, California. He was honorably discharged four years later.

Billy married Helene Philp in 1960 and they had two children, Scott and Suzanne. He married Cheryl Whitman in 1995.

Billy grew up working in his family’s aggregate/block/ready-mix business, Gesell Concrete, in Bagley. Gesell trucking was formed in 1975. Billy started working in Bemidji in 1976 when Gesell Concrete expanded to include a plant and office in Bemidji. Bemidji Blacktop was later purchased and added to the company.

Billy died June 4, 2011 and was buried in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Bagley with military honors.  

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