William "Bill" Bowland

William J. 'Bill" Bowland born October 2,1926 in Tekemah, Nebraska, to Yard and Stella (McNear) Bowland passed on November 18th of natural causes. Bill lived in the Bitterroot Valley for 46 years.
Bill grew up on the family farm in Eastern Nebraska. As many did, Bill quit school in the 10th grade to help work the farm; he later earned his high school GED. In 1950, Bill enlisted in the US Air Force and served four years as a B-50 remote control turret gunner.
After honorable discharge, Bill returned to Tekemah and soon met Anita Sweet. In February 1955, he married Anita and adopted her two sons, Jack and Joe. In December that year his son Patrick was born.
In 1957, Bill was asked to help his father-in-law in a Montana gold mine in running a ball mill at Bannack. Bill moved his family to the Bannack area, working the mine till the gold and the money ran out. The family returned to Nebraska, where Bill easily found work, this time in Omaha at an auto and transmission shop. There he learned the auto mechanic trade. In 1966, the Bowland family went on vacation in Montana to visit friends in Darby. The family fell in love with Montana yet again. When they returned home from vacation to find that Bill's employer was closing his shop, they took this as a sign to move to the Valley again. Bill never left his beloved Bitterroot Valley.
Bill started out logging as a sawyer for Dee Shook until an injury forced him out of the woods. Bill went back to the auto mechanic field, working for Al Moerkerke at Al's Cozy Conoco. Bill saved enough to open his own service shop in 1969, Bill's Auto Clinic. Years later, son Pat took over the business and in 1993 Bill was able to retire and go fishin' full time.
Bill loved the outdoors he hunted and fished all of his life and in retirement he was able to fish Montana's lakes and rivers with his many fishin buddies. He enjoyed working as a fish fry chef at the tavern for many years. He was a life member of the NRA and a member of the American Legion, the Eagles and the VFW. He donated to several Veteran's support groups including the Wounded Warriors Project. He quietly helped other veterans cope with their demons.
Bill was preceded by his parents, and brother Dan.
He is survived by son Pat (Marti) and grandson Zac (Kate), stepsons Jack and Joe and their mother Anita, his sisters, Marge (Dick) Sheets, Dorothy (Bud) Magrue, and Mary (Don) Thomas, brother Leo (Joy), special nephew Dick (pat) Sheets, and numerous nieces and nephews and friends, especially his tavern family.
The Bowlands would like to thank the staff and the residents of Discovery Care Center for keeping Bill happy at your 'Bed and Breakfast.'
In lieu of flowers, Bill asked that you donate to the Ravalli County Veterans Memorial: VVA 938 Veterans Memorial, PO Box 1391, Hamilton, MT 59840.