Carmen Joy Williams

You can view Carmen's service on Hope's YouTube page.

Carmen Joy Williams, 71, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, died Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, North Dakota, after a courageous battle with stage four lung cancer with her family by her side.

Born January 16, 1955, Carmen grew up on the outskirts of Grand Forks, where her love for rural life began. She graduated from Red River High School in 1973 and, after working for a couple of years, found what would become a lifelong passion at the University of North Dakota.

Carmen started her UND employment in 1976 as a part-time registration clerk. She also attended UND, earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Over her 40 years at UND, she held positions as programmer analyst, assistant registrar, and ended her career as Director of Institutional Research, an office she reestablished. Carmen also filled in multiple times as Interim Registrar. She was passionate about her work and research at UND and loved to share her knowledge at various state, regional, and national conferences, where she presented many topics. She often commented that the best part about working at UND was the great people she worked with and the camaraderie of the university community. Many lifelong friends were made over the years.

Two of Carmen’s greatest passions were dogs and horses. She and her family raised several dogs over the years. She especially loved their Doberman Pinschers, particularly her last Dobie, Ruby. Her love for horses began early. Her first horse, Alladin, was a cherished Christmas present when she was 11. When she was 13, she and her dad went to look at another horse. Of the two horses she looked at, one was a pretty sorrel, very nice and quiet. The other horse was a 3-year-old jet-black mare that reared when the owner rode her. Carmen ended up with that rearing horse, Poco Black Widow, and they became a great team. Carmen loved to compete with Poco in horse shows across the valley, becoming very competitive in barrel racing. Carmen loved these days of horse shows and very much valued the long-term friendships that were made through those years.

Carmen married Rick Bohlman in 1973, and they had two children, Timothy and Laura. On December 20, 1980, she married Ralph Williams, beginning a life together filled with excitement, laughter, family, horses, travel, and adventure. Together they had daughter Lindsey and son Travis. The family embraced country living and, over the years, built a beautiful horse facility west of Grand Forks. Later in life, their horse lives changed from competing to trail riding. Carmen and Ralph loved to take horses to Fort Ransom and out to Medora and spend time trail riding and camping. At the age of 70, Carmen and Ralph continued their love of trail riding as well as biking. They took horses, dogs, and bikes, camping in their living-quarters horse trailer.

Carmen and Ralph enjoyed traveling, first with their children and later with their grandchildren. Together, they visited 45 of the 50 states. When the grandchildren were young, they would take vacations or short trips during the summer, each with a set of grandkids. From Canada to Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Minnesota, lots of memories were made. Carmen and Ralph liked to make learning experiences out of these trips—talking about the animals, landscapes, and how to “survive with just a string.” Lots of laughs and memories.

Their travels took them throughout the United States and to Mexico and Italy, but they especially enjoyed wintering in Venice, Florida, where they would reconnect with dear friends. In the summer, if not camping or at horse competitions, they enjoyed their house on Bemidji Lake and the GF ranch. Carmen “discovered” electric bikes and loved to bike the countryside—both in Bemidji and Venice. Carmen and Ralph loved visiting with new and old friends. They were blessed with a great group of close friends.

Ralph and Carmen kept very busy watching grandkids in sports and other school events—from volleyball, hockey, tennis, basketball, football, and debate too, in the summers, following Lindsey and her daughter (granddaughter) Ava to horse shows and barrel racing competitions. Carmen could often be seen coaching the kids and horses from the sidelines. When young Ava would run her speedster horse, Rosie, Carmen would sometimes be heard yelling “Slow down!”

Carmen is survived by her husband, Ralph Williams; sons, Tim Bohlman and Travis Williams; daughters, Laura (Mike) Spicer and Lindsey (Dennis) Perrault; nine grandchildren, Jaylin Perrault, Gabby Spicer, Magdalene Spicer, Dennis Jr. Perrault, Gunner Spicer, Sophia Williams, Ava Perrault, Hudson Spicer, and Kaia Williams; her mother, Evelyn “Snookie” Register; sisters, Paula Anderson and Pam Register; brother, Kevin (Trish) Register; aunt, Pamela Larson; and her beloved cousins in the Lindgren and Larson families. She is also survived by her in-laws, Heiko Wijnholds, Karen Williams, Kathy Williams, Tim (Jodi) Williams, Tom (Angela) Williams, Maria (Colin) Kennedy, and John Williams.

She was preceded in death by her father, Winston Register; beloved grandparents, Joy and Armin Rohde; uncle and aunt, Don and Jolly Lindgren; great-uncle and great-aunt, Eddie and Evelyn Massee; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frank and Mary Williams; and in-laws, Carrie Wijnholds, Dan Williams, and Mike Williams.

Carmen’s family would like to thank the Cancer Center of North Dakota, Dr. Potti and staff, and the ICU staff at Altru Hospital for the care and compassion they provided throughout her journey.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Red River Valley Horse Show Association (1649 17th Ave. NE Grand Forks, ND 58201).

Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Friday, September 18, 2026, at Hope Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. A memorial service will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Hope Church. Following the service, a late lunch will be served. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, Fisher, MN. After the burial, family and friends are invited to gather at the Masonic Temple for continued fellowship and remembrance. Those who prefer not to travel to the cemetery are warmly invited to go directly to the Masonic Temple following lunch, where they may gather until the family returns.