Bill was born October 15, 1922, in White Sulphur Springs, Montana, where he attended school in nearby Martinsdale. He graduated from Great Falls High School. After a summer of smokejumping in Missoula in 1942, he served in the Navy during WWII. After serving, he began a career with the Federal Aviation Administration as a safety inspector. Bill was a VFW post commander and enjoyed flying. He died August 26, 1994 in White Sulphur Springs.