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William "Bill" Koepke, Jr: October 9, 1942 -- August 3, 2010
HAVRE — William Norman Koepke Jr., 67, died Tuesday at a Havre care center, of complications from progressive supranuclear palsy.
At his request, no services will be held. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Holland & Bonine Funeral Home, and private burial will be at a later date
William was born Oct. 9, 1942, in Cut Bank to William Norman and Mary (Nanini) Koepke Sr. He was raised in Cut Bank until he was 9 years old and moved with his family to Sunburst. Norman graduated from North Toole County High School in 1962.
He worked on his uncle's farm north of Cut Bank, and then attended Hanson Mechanical Trade School in Fargo, N.D. In 1964, Bill enlisted in the United States Army and served in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1966 as a private first class. He returned to Cut Bank and started working for the Montana Power Co. as a field operator. He then went to work at the Glacier County Sheriff's Department from 1971 until 1981 as a deputy sheriff and undersheriff. After working for 10 years at the sheriff's department, he returned for a short time to the oil rigs, and then went back to work for Montana Power.
Bill had two children, Kathy and Tom, of whom he was very proud. He moved to Havre in 2007, and lived at Eagles Manor so he could be near his children. In 2008, Bill moved into the Northern Montana Care Center because of health reasons.
Bill was a people person; he enjoyed socializing with everyone and always seemed to meet someone new. He enjoyed hunting, trapping and fishing, and was an excellent shot. He was a sharpshooter in the military, and the coyotes didn't stand a chance. He was a lifetime member of the Moose Lodge in Cut Bank and helped with many of their activities. He enjoyed golfing and looked forward to the 19th hole.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Marlene Koepke.
Bill is survived by his daughter, Kathy (Adrian) Kostelnik of Havre; son Tom (Deanna) Koepke of Great Falls; two grandsons, Derek Fitzgerald and Kristopher Chapman; a sister, Loretta (Jake) Jacobson of Warner, Alberta; and a nephew, Lenny Atkinson of Columbia, S.C.
Memorials are suggested to a charity of the donor's choice.
Condolences may be posted online at
hollandbonine@q.com
and/or
gftribune.com/obituaries.
Published in Great Falls Tribune on Aug. 5, 2010.
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Barbara Anderson (Kimmet) (1963)
Bill also has a niece and Nephew Toni and Mike Keopke The Children of Marlene. and 2 great Nephews by Toni.
Bill was a great guy. Alway kind to every one we've been friends forever. Barbara Kimmet 1963