OBITUARY FROM THE MONTANA STANDARD (BUTTE, MONTANA) WEBSITE
William Roy Gibson, 97, of Billings, passed away April 7, 2013, from congestive heart failure.
Bill was born Feb. 19, 1916, in Edmond, Wis., to Roy William and Martha Francis Hunt Gibson. He was the fourth of five siblings, three older sisters and one younger brother. His father, together with his father, was involved in the real estate profession in Eau Claire, Wis., prior to settling on a dairy farm where Bill spent the best 14 years of his childhood. The family moved to Gary and Hobart, Ind., where Bill graduated from Hobart High School. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and saw three months of service fighting “blister rust” at Bovill, Idaho, and six months at Topango Canyon, Calif., where he served as secretary in the Forest Service office. After returning to Hobart, he and a friend decided to “Go West,” traveling in a 1926 Model T Ford touring sedan. They stopped at Wolf Point, working in the harvest fields to replenish their financial resources. They continued their journey and Bill ended up at his uncle’s place, Bart Thomas and family at Missoula. After enjoying several months with the Thomas family, Bill journeyed to
Philipsburg, to visit his uncle, Maynard Hunt and family. There he met the love of his life, Arlette Irene Williams. She was sweet 16 and the Philipsburg queen. She was an accomplished pianist and had a beautiful voice singing at high school and various community functions. Bill spent several years as a miner in Philipsburg, as well as a short stint in the “Cement Gang” building the Fort Peck Dam.
He returned to Chicago, where he graduated from the Chicago College of Commerce in June 1938 with a degree in accounting. After graduating, he returned to the “Last Best Place,” his beloved Montana. Bill and Arlette were married on Sept. 23, 1939.
He had a challenging career with the Anaconda Co., occupying various official positions with the parent company, as well as a number of subsidies. He served as district comptroller and vice president of finance for the Anaconda Co., before the family returned to Butte after serving two years for the company in Tucson, Ariz. In the early 40s, he and his family moved to Columbus, where Bill was employed as chief bookkeeper for the Anaconda Co., which contracted with the federal government to develop and mine the chrome mines at the Benbow and Mouat operations. The family returned to Butte after the mines ceased operations. He retired after more than 37 years of service. They moved to Billings in January 1979, when their son, Mike, suffered a brain aneurism, which left him totally disabled until he passed away in December 1994. Bill and Arlette cared for Mike for 16 years in Billings as their grandchildren witnessed the incredible selfless caring and devotion to their disabled son. During this time, Bill became a real estate broker specializing in the sale of ranches and mobile home parks.
Bill and Arlette celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with family and friends at Holland Lake on Sept. 23, 1999. Their grandchildren nominated their grandmother and grandfather for the American Red Cross and St. Vincent’s Hospital Family Heroes Award. The nomination was accepted and Bill and Arlette were honored with a Heroes Award breakfast with approximately 250 in attendance.
Bill was devoted to his family. He often stated that “This was what it is all about.” He was always there when needed. He loved spending time outdoors exploring, boating, fishing and hunting. He loved “roughing it,” (road or no road) in Montana’s backcountry by horse or a chained-up SUV. Bill took his last hunting trip only two years ago at one of his favorite places — a beloved cousin’s ranch near Philipsburg.
Bill is survived by two sons and their families, William Roy Gibson Jr., (Julie), of Billings, and their children, Cari (Gary) Carlson of Billings and son, Kristofer (Kayla), Cami (Dave) Chandler and children, Morgan and Allison, Kaycee (Jason) Hodges and children Nickolas, Jessie, Emily and Kolby, Steven Douglas Gibson (Martina) of Billings, and children, Jason, Andrew (Renetta) and their son, Josiah, and Christopher (Katie), granddaughters, Bobbi (Tim) Fortune, Debby Soapes-Rickey (Cliff) and children, Asia (Christina), Kory, Noah and Tia, granddaughter, Shawna Gibson and daughter, Lillian. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; siblings; his beloved wife, Arlette Williams Gibson; son, Ralph Edwin (Mike) Gibson; daughter, Sue Carol Fortune and her daughter, Mary Irene; and great-grandson, Tyler James (TJ) Soapes.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 17, at Dahl’s Funeral Chapel at 10 Yellowstone Ave., Billings, with a reception to follow. Interment will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at the Philipsburg Cemetery in Philipsburg, with a reception following at the Granite County Cultural Center in Philipsburg.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the special care received by Rocky Mountain Hospice staff the past 17 months. If desired, memorials may be made to Rocky Mountain Hospice or American Heart Association.
Arrangements are in the care of Dahl Funeral Chapel and memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlfuneralchapel.com or go to www.mtstandard.com/obits.
We will always “Love You More.”
This information and picture were obtained from: http://mtstandard.com/news/local/obituaries/william-r-gibson/article_d358f08e-a665-11e2-ba69-0019bb2963f4.html.