William 'Bill' Halstead Ling, 67

William “Bill” Halstead Ling, 67, passed away at home in Whitefish on Sept. 16, 2011. 

Bill was born in Albany, N.Y., the son of Halstead and Dorothy Ling.

He grew up in Laurens, near Cooperstown, N.Y., and graduated with 24 students from Laurens Central School. He attended Amherst College, graduating with a bachelor of arts in mathematics. He attended the University of Massachusetts and earned a master’s in mathematics. He earned his Ph.D. In mathematics (approximation theory) from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).  Bill Studied overseas at Uppsala University in Sweden and the Max Planck Institute in Munich. He taught mathematics at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y.       

He ultimately spent 30 years at Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, N.M., where he was a supervisor for systems analysis. His work was classified. He was at the same location as the president on 9/11, as the president traveled to a secure site.

Bill was always a gifted and accomplished athlete. He played golf, squash, racket ball, tennis, skied and played football in high school and college. He loved music and could play the banjo, ukulele and guitar, and had a great voice. He loved jazz, humor and told the best stories. He also loved languages, such as German, Spanish and Swedish, and he traveled extensively.

He is survived by his wife, Marguerite Kaminski of Whitefish, and his five children, Cody, Chance, Cherstin, Callie and Casey Ling, all of the family home; his sister, Sara Ling of Manhattan, N.Y.; and his cousin, Kathy Ling Mullins of Willard, N.M.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Bill was the consummate father, husband, friend, teacher, son and brother. We will miss him greatly.

Services will be held at a later date.

You are invited to go to www.Austinfh.com to offer condolences and view William's tribute wall.