William G. 'Bill' Vogt, 80
William G. ‘Bill’ Vogt, 80
William G. “Bill” Vogt, 80, passed away on Nov. 18, 2015, at Heritage Place in Kalispell.
Bill was born on Feb. 16, 1935, in Watertown, South Dakota, to William and Hattie (Dummann) Vogt. Bill graduated from Watertown High School in 1953, and then went onto get his undergradate and master’s degrees from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He was on the 1952 All Star High School Football Team in South Dakota. and was also in the hall of fame for football at Northern State University. Bill married Jean Wanstedt on Dec. 27, 1956, in Lemmon, South Dakota. Bill worked as a junior high teacher and elementary principal in Lemmon, an elementary and junior high principal in Huron, South Dakota and assistant vice principal and principal at Flathead High School, retiring in 1993. He started the Lazer program at Flathead High School because his first priority was always the students.
Bill was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church serving on the board. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge, the Lion’s in South Dakota, and the past secretary, MHSA AA representative, board member and president of the Montana High School Association. Bill was also a referee for football and basketball.
He enjoyed gardening, raising and training hunting dogs, fishing, big game hunting and bird hunting. He even raised several species of birds. Bill guided pheasant hunting in South Dakota for several years after he retired from FHS. He enjoyed traveling to several states with his wife Jean, watching his grandchildren participate in sports and activities was a great joy, but one of his fondest memories was hunting and fishing in Alaska with his sons.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Darlene; and brothers, Don, Herb and Jim.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Jean Vogt; daughter, Kim and and Mick Blodnick of Kalispell; sons, Steve and Tina Vogt of Sheridan Wyoming, Rob Vogt and Clark Vogt.
There will be a celebration of life barbecue in the summer of 2016. The family suggest memorials be made to a scholarship to be established at Flathead High School in Bill’s name, c/o Jean Vogt, 1095 Columbia Falls Stage, Columbia Falls, MT 59912.
To send a note of condolence to the family please go to www.buffalohillfh.com.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.