Bill, 85, died April 19, 2012, in Stevensville, Montana. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1945 and earned an honorable discharge. After working as a Forest Service lookout, Bill trained and jumped from Missoula during the 1947 season. He worked as a parts man and service manager at Mountain Tractor Company and later served as a parts man at Missoula Truck Sales. He rode on horseback through most of Montana's western wilderness.