Bryan Illerbrun Bryan Illerbrun, 56, of Williston, N.D, former Saskatchewan Roughrider Professional Football player, died Thursday, May 16, 2013 at Trinity Medical Center in Minot. Friends may sign the online register book and give their condolences at His Funeral Mass was held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Williston. Fr. Russell Kovash and Fr. Raymond Aydt con-celebrated the Mass. A scriptural prayer service was held at 7:00 p.m., Monday, May 20, 2013 at Fulkerson Funeral Home in Williston. Interment in Riverview Cemetery, Williston. Bryan Illerbrun was born April 20, 1957 near Gainsborough, Saskatchewan, Canada. He grew up loving sports and excelled in all areas but his dream was to play FOOTBALL and play he did! At 15 he left home to go to Regina where he managed to get on the Junior League while attending high school and finished at age 17. He was given a full ride scholarship to UND Grand Forks, N.D., but was offered a position with the Roughriders and chose that over college after doing one semester. He played with the Roughriders from 1978-1983; for the B.C. Lions from 1984-1986; the Roughriders again from 1986-1989 and then Ottawa Roughriders from 1990-1991. During those years he was part of two Grey Cup victories; one in 1985 with the B.C. Lions and again in 1989 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Football was who he was. He loved the game, he loved his team and he loved to play. The Rider Alumni report described Bryan as a BIG GUY, BIG BODY, BIG HEART and BIG PASSION. The executive director of the CFL noted that "Illie" will be remembered as a great teammate, team player and all around good guy. Bryan worked for SaskPower in Regina and really enjoyed people. He talked a lot about their trips to the reservations to teach the kids about fitness and health and how he wished he could do more for them. Bryan was also an avid fisherman and hunter and enjoyed his hunting trips with the guys; there were many stories that can still be told! His creative cooking would put any 5-Star restaurant to shame and that same creativity applied to his talent for carpentry. In the early '90s, Bryan moved to Williston, N.D .to work with his father, Jerry Illerbrun. He later purchased an old boarding house in Tioga, which he has been working on for some time and was hoping to have finished this summer. Bryan met the love of his life and after many movies they finally married. With this marriage came six children who contributed 9 grandchildren who all called him Papa; he enjoyed teasing them and making them laugh. Ryleigh is his natural granddaughter and as much as he loved teasing her, she could give it right back, but mostly he loved to listen to her read to him. Bryan always said he was not afraid to die because he had lived his dream and found his soul mate. He felt blessed for all the good things he had been given and had a strong belief in God. He is survived by his parents, Vivian and Jerry Illerbrun; his two sons, Jeremy and Jonathon of Regina, Sask.; his granddaughter, Ryleigh who lives in Rugby and his wife, Nora. Friends were able to call at the Fulkerson Funeral Home in Williston on Monday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. and at the church on Tuesday, one hour prior to services.
