William 'Bill' James Ringwood, 88

Bill Ringwood, 88, of Sprague, Wash., entered into rest March 31, 2008. Bill was born Nov. 2, 1919, to Edward W. Ringwood and Katherine (McHugh) Ringwood as the second of six children.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Katherine; three sisters, Dorothea, Harriett and Regina; and one brother, Ed Jr.

Bill is survived by his brother, John "Jack" P. Ringwood, and his wife, Joanne, of Spokane; his sister-in-law, Eleanor (Zeller) Laney, of Spokane; sons, Sam Ringwood and wife, Peggy, of Creston, Don Ringwood and wife, Janna, of Sprague, and Gerald Ringwood and his wife, Karen, of Kennewick, Wash.; and daughter, Mary Ringwood, of Vancouver, Wash.; seven grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Bill was a member of Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Sprague, where he was involved in many of the activities of the parish.

He was a member of the National and Washington Wheat Growers Association, the National, Washington and Lincoln Cattleman's Association, and the Crab Creek Grange. In 1993, Bill and Marie were awarded the Water Quality Conservation Farmers of the Year for Lincoln County.

Bill grew up on a farm north of Sprague, where he developed a love and appreciation for agricultural life. He attended school through the eighth grade at the Ringwood country school, and in 1937, he graduated from St. Joseph Academy.

After high school, he worked for a short time for Boeing in Seattle before returning to Sprague to farm. As a young man during the transition time from horse to tractor power, he wrangled horses for John Melville and Andy Crowe. Rumor has it that at a dance at the Sprague Lake Resort, Bill met Helen "Marie" Zeller, a student from the Cheney Normal School and a native of Kalispell, while she was visiting friends from Sprague. On Nov. 10, 1945, Bill and Marie were married on a snowy day in Somers.

Bill and Marie farmed in the Sprague area for a couple of years prior to moving to Somers to farm and the KM Ranch north of Kalispell until 1951, when they returned to settle on a farm north of Sprague. The neighbors down the road were Bob Laney, a childhood classmate of Bill's, and his wife, Eleanor (Zeller) Laney, Marie's sister. The two couples raised and provided educational opportunities for their children, while making numerous trips back to the Montana country to visit relatives.

Bill displayed a strong loyalty and commitment to his wife, family, friends, church and the community. Few are aware of his many unselfish actions behind the scenes. He and many of the men of his generation were quietly making the community a better place for those who lived in Sprague.

Viewing will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 6, followed by a vigil service at 4 p.m., both at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home, 2203 N. Division, in Spokane. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, April 7, at Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Sprague, Wash., with the Rev. Patrick MacMahon, celebrant; followed by a social gathering from noon to 2 p.m. Interment will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery at 3 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church Building Fund, c/o Anita Fredricks, Box 193, Sprague, WA 99032; or a charity of one's choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hennessey Smith Funeral Home.