A fixture in McIntosh County died Thursday, along with, perhaps, the most institutional knowledge of the North Dakota Legislature ever amassed in one brain.

William “Billy” Kretchsmar, 83, of Venturia, died at CHI St. Alexius Health in Bismarck. Kretachmar's health had been in decline in recent months.

Kretschmar, a Republican, served in the North Dakota House from 1973-97 and from 2000-16. Kretschmar was Speaker of the House from 1988-90.

“I learned so much history from Kretch,” said former legislator Bruce Eckre, of Wahpeton. “The history of the Legislature that is not in the history books. They say when a person dies, a whole history book goes with them. In Kretch's case; it was many books. The state of North Dakota has lost a great one!”

A District 28 colleague, Sen. Robert Erbele, R-Lehr, said, “I have often said that traveling around the district with Rep. Kretschmar was like having a library in your car.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, at Zion Lutheran Church in Ashley.