Dr. John William “Bill” Bloemendaal, 89, orthopedist and surgeon, passed away peacefully at his home on January 13, 2020.
Bill was born on February 10, 1930, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to Dr. Gerrit and Gladys (Williams) Bloemendaal, parents of Dutch and Welsh descent. He was raised in Ipswich, South Dakota.
Bill graduated from Ipswich High School in 1948, and then attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD, graduating in 1953 in Pre-Med. Inspired by his father and two uncles, he also attended Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia, PA, receiving his MD in 1955. He returned to Minneapolis in 1955 and did his internship at Minneapolis General and his Residency in Orthopedics at the University of Minnesota. There, he met his wife, Carolyn “Lynn,” and they married in 1957.
In July 1961, Bill and Lynn moved to Great Falls. Bill joined the orthopedic staff of the Great Falls Clinic, and served there for almost five years. In the mid-1960’s, in addition to serving as President of the Deaconess Hospital staff, he established Great Falls Orthopedic Associates (GFOA), with Dr. David Friedrick. GFOA ultimately became one of the state’s largest orthopedic practices. In 2010, GFOA opened the state of the art Orthopedic Center of Montana (OCEM) in partnership with Benefis Health System. At 89, Bill remained an active employee of Benefis Orthopedic Associates, seeing patients daily in his office, with a commitment to continuing education.
Bill was a very strong and dedicated community servant, and held numerous offices for professional and service groups. His long record of community service included terms on the Great Falls Public School Board of Trustees and 25 years of service to the United Financial Corp Board of Directors.
To read the complete obituary and share condolences, visit the Schnider Funeral Home website.
