William L. Bourne

William (Bill) LaVerne Bourne

 On May 30, 2022, at St Patrick Hospital, Bill earned his angel wings.  Bill was born November 3, 1940, in Missoula MT.  He was raised along with his siblings Myrna, Sue, and Don by his loving step grandmother Hazel Bourne. 

When he was 8 years old, he was run over by a county truck in a school yard and lost his leg.  Bill spent that year in St Patrick Hospital being cared for by nurses and nuns who loved him dearly.

Dad loved horses.  As a teenager, he cared for horses at the Daly Mansion with Willy Couture.  During this time, he also rode horses at the fairgrounds for Tom Ford and Shorty Dunbar.  In the 1970’s Dad joined the Ravalli County Sheriffs Posse and rode his black mustang, Coco, that he had raised on a bottle. 

Bill started his career working at H&R Auto Co in 1959.  He continued his hobby and talent of restoring cars until 2012.  His 1956 pink and white Ford Crown Victoria was his favorite.

In 1974 he married the love of his life and soul mate Lauraine (Raini) Walen.  With their children from previous marriages, they became a family of 7.  This year on May 11th Bill and Raini celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary.

They were blessed during their marriage to always work and play together.  Dad was a friendly little Produce Manager at 3 different stores in town from 1960 – 1983.  He and his wife, Lauraine, started B&B produce at their home in 1983.  In 1994, they put up mini storage units and changed their business name to B&B Mini Storage. 

Looking back at his many victories over life’s trials, was a true testimony of God’s hand in Dad becoming the man Christ had intended him to be.  May his life be an example of God’s grace.

Dad was always willing to listen, share his wisdom and drew the trust of anyone he knew.  If you were lucky enough to be his neighbor, I am sure you enjoyed his magical touch he had with the beautiful peonies he grew in his yard. 

We will miss listening to him whistle, telling wonderful stories, loving his family, and sharing his wisdom with all that knew him.

Bill is survived by his wife and soul mate Lauraine, their children, Rita (Tom) Jones, David (Dana) Bourne, Rob (Sue) Bourne, Elyzabeth Silvah, Chuck (Kim) Walen, 19 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren. His mother-in-law Laura, sisters-in-law Wanda and Sheila, brother in-law Billy and several nieces and nephews.

Bill requested not to have a funeral.  If you would like to share a memory, please post on the Daly-Leach Chapel website. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William L. Bourne, please visit our floral store.