William John Bill Wise, 77

William John Bill Wise passed away on Sunday night, May 23, 2010. Bill was born Feb. 10, 1933, to William McKinley and Lauretta Alice (Biggs) Wise, in, much to his chagrin, Los Angeles, where his parents had gone for a week s visit. Bill grew up Casper, Wyo., the Mission area and Kalispell. He enlisted in the Army and served with the 11th Airborne in Korea. In 1959 he married Dona Fae Eklund, and they had two children, Carrie and Mark. Following their divorce, he met Shirley Ann (Watson) Busselle on Mother s Day 1971. They married that fall and he gained daughters Dawn, Gloria and Cheryl. Dad delivered freight throughout the valley for Helphrey Motor Freight, Ringsby United, and later Wallace-Colville. After retiring from trucking he worked as a heavy equipment mechanic in the mining and highway construction industries throughout Montana, Washington and Nevada. When that played out, he turned his extensive creative talents to fabricating and was a partner in a small machine shop. For fun, he built several Volkswagon-powered trikes, and could be seen riding them around town. Throughout his life, Dad spent many an hour working with Les Bauska at the Gun Shop: There is nothing more beautiful that a finely turned barrel. Shooting was a passion and he was instrumental in founding the Flathead Muzzle Loaders, and was active in the Archery Club and Northwest Montana Arms Collectors. He is survived by Shirley, his wife of 39 years; daughter, Carrie, of Kalispell; son, Mark, of Houston; daughter, Dawn Gienger, and husband, Kevin, of Kiensal, N.D.; daughters, Gloria Brown and Cheryl Busselle, of Kalispell; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A man of few, but all the more wise words, Dad had a deep, gruff voice, and a heart as soft as a marshmallow; he appreciated a good joke, a good steak, his family and friends, the warmth and companionship of Sykes, his flower beds (particularly tulips), and the Irish Rovers. His passing leaves a hole in the fabric of many lives. He will truly be missed. No services are planned. Please join us for celebration of Bill s life from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, May 28, at Sykes Restaurant. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Bill s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences.