William 'Bill' McKiernan, 83

Bill McKiernan, 83, passed away on Nov. 28, 2014, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center after a long battle with emphysema and complications of cancer. He was surrounded by family who knew his suffering was ended, and “he would be at peace and pain free with the Lord and his family who went on before him.”

Bill was born in Roundup on May 8, 1931, and went through school there being a very accomplished athlete. Shortly after high school he married his high school sweetheart and they had one son who was born while Bill was serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He spent two years stationed in Japan carrying supplies to the front line in Korea. During his Army days he continued to be an outstanding athlete, participating in the military baseball teams and boxing.

He returned to Montana and attended barber college, and worked as a barber in Roundup for a few years until he decided that was not his calling; he also was divorced during that time. He continued to play baseball and participated in the Golden Gloves Boxing program. He then attended Montana State University and graduated with a degree in wildlife sciences. Bill was privileged to be the first game warden trainee during his college years and created a program that exists to this day through the college and the State Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks. Bill graduated from MSU and was appointed a state game warden in June 1960, and worked in Baker on his first assignment. He then transferred to Bozeman, on to Butte, and then was promoted to warden sergeant, and moved to work in the Kalispell area.

In 1971, he left Kalispell and was working in the Fish & Game headquarters office in Helena on special assignment. He worked to create the State Boat Safety Program, designed an entire new uniform for the wardens and helped change the law to allow wardens to carry firearms on the job. When his work was done in Helena, he was promoted to captain and moved to Bozeman to be the warden captain of Region 3. In 1977, he was promoted to assistant chief of law enforcement for the Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks, and was in that position until his retirement in 1985.  

In 1977, he married Joni and they lived in Helena until 1991, when they moved back to Kalispell. Bill enjoyed his retirement years living on Village Greens Golf Course and playing a lot of golf. He was an outstanding golfer and accomplished “shooting his age” many times as he got older. He made great friends and the 19th hole was always a favorite. When he could not play golf anymore, he enjoyed crossword puzzles, watching the wildlife in the back yard and sports on TV. Many afternoons were spent watching “Gunsmoke” with his best friend Freddie. He never ceased being an athlete at heart.  

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William and Jennie McKiernan; his sister, Marian; and brother, Burt.  

He is survived by his wife, Joni; sons, Rodney Pinkham and Young of Las Vegas, and Michael McKiernan and wife Melanie of Great Falls; stepdaughters, Donna Robinson of Reno and her son Michael, and Carolyn Hazard of Kalispell; granddaughters, Megan and Shannon; and six great-grandchildren.  

At Bill's request there will be no services at this time.

A memorial is planned for May 8 at Village Greens and at Bill's direction, we will plant a tree in his honor on the golf course.   

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family and is in charge of cremation.