Billy Wallace Reis, 54
Billy Wallace Reis, 54, of Clark, Mo., was 'called home to be with his heavenly Father and his dad' on Jan. 16, 2006, at his home.
He was born March 3, 1951, in Denison, Iowa, to Wallace Rollo Reis and Mary Kathryen Pelley Reis.
In 1955, he moved with his family to Whitefish. He attended primary schools and graduated from Whitefish High School in 1969. He was active in football, other sports and was in 4-H for many years. His childhood was spent helping to run the family farm.
He continued his education in Moberly, Mo., by attending Central Christian College of the Bible and received his bachelor's degree in counseling in 1989. He also attended college at Columbia University to obtain his master's degree. He continued working as a pastor of the Christian faith, as a farmer and 'Do Everything Guy.' Whenever he had the time, you could find Billy in his boat with a fishing pole in his hand out to get 'The Big One.'
On Jan. 18, 1974, he married Candace Barton. They were foster parents to many children for numerous years. From this marriage his children were born and survive him: Shamaine Reis of Washington, D.C., Beau Reis of Kalispell, and Billie Reis of Washington, D.C.
On Oct. 29, 1994, he married the lady he was searching for, Betty Jane Cummings, of Clark, Mo., and she survives him at the family home in Clark.
Other survivors include his mother, Katie Wilson, of Columbia Falls; stepsons, Kevin and Nancy Barton of Clark, Clifford and Barbara Barton of Mexico, and Paul Shearin and his fiancee, Jennifer, of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; stepdaughters, Ruth and Dwight Dixon of Higbee, Mo., Vicky and Lindall Miley of Farmington, Mo., and Brittney and Kevin Darlin of Poplar Bluff; three sisters, Linda and Bill Hoyt of Whitefish, Becky and Jerry Reed of Columbia Falls, and Barbara Dennis Raze of Kalispell; sisters-in-law and husbands, Charlotte, Charlene, Alice and Sue; 22 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; uncles, aunts, cousins, three nephews, close uncle Dude and cousin Dudley Reis; and special friends, Todd Reed and Gary Bailey.
Services were held Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Million-Taylor Funeral Home in Moberly, Mo. Burial was at Chapel Grove Cemetery in Clark, Mo.
Memorials are suggested to the family.