WIlliam Marchington

William E. “Bill” Marchington, of Jardine MT, passed away suddenly at the age of 77 at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital with his wife Kathy by his side.

Bill was born May 16, 1946, in Portland, OR to Roy and Nora Marchington. With the exception of a few years in his youth and time in service, Montana was his home. He grew up in a cabin along Bear Creek without running water in the winter but with mountains of love and mountains to climb. He graduated from Gardiner High School in 1964 and kept those friendships. Bill was a hero in a Gardiner-Three Forks Conference basketball game when “the 6’4” player hit the basket in the last few seconds to put Gardiner ahead 45-43.”

He worked in the Gardiner area the summer after high school but was drafted and served in the US Army from September 1965 to August 1967. He served in Vietnam confidently rerouting ships and manifests in a war room surrounded by maps. That was his day job but at night he took his turn at Guard Duty.  Bill was awarded an Army Commendation Medal for this service. Major Nelson was especially pleased to present the award personally in Jardine, as in country they were assigned to the same unit.  He went in as a boy but came out a man. Bill wore his black Vietnam cap proudly and was recognized for his service and welcomed home frequently.

He went to work for Yellowstone National Park Service as an Engineering Equipment Operator and worked his way up to a Road Maintenance Foreman and Supervisor for the special projects division. Each spring he was part of the snow removal crew and was in charge of getting the Beartooth Highway open by Memorial Day. He retired after 29 years with YNPS. He must have been a good boss as he remained friends with many he worked with over the years. He went to work at the Mineral Hill Mine and did reclamation work from 1998-2009.

Bill met Kathy after the Gardiner rodeo on June 11, 2000, and they married in 2005. A honeymoon in Mexico led to exploring more places in Mexico, Florida, Alaska, Portugal, Vietnam, Ireland, Scotland and Scotland again.  However, they loved their life in Montana. Bill’s home again was on Bear Creek.

Bill was an excellent outdoorsman, hunter and marksman and he kept buying additional freezers for the harvest. In November 2022, he had a late tag and shot a bull elk on horseback that scored 363 in Boone and Crocket with his childhood friend and outfitter. The real harvest was the bonding over hunts, hikes, fishing trips, endless cups of coffee and something stronger. Being in the mountains drew him literally to a higher power.

Bill and Kathy blended his Montana and her Minnesota roots. The support shown reaches east to west.

Bill was a Soldier, Dad, Grandpa, Husband and Brother. He was a self-made, strong, handsome guy with a great sense of humor.

He is survived by his wife Kathy. He was extremely proud of and loved his son, Michael J. Stultz of North Pole, AK, a Master Sargeant in the US Air Force, his beautiful wife Christine and his grandchildren sweet Evan and Evelyn, who inherited Bill’s blue eyes. Bill is also survived by his sister Marie Slanger of Fargo, ND, a brother, Robert (Janet) Marchington of Three Forks, MT, Nephews: Rob, Jim and Dan Slanger and Garet Marchington, Brother in law; Bob Sumada; Sisters-in-laws: Barbara Rasch of Minneapolis, MN and Betsy Taves of Detriot Lakes MN; Nephews: Nick England, Alex Taves, Greg Goldstein and Nieces: Annie Giehl, Tina Munzke and Claire Swanson.

Along with his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Martha Sumada; his brothers-in-laws: William Slanger, Carroll Rasch and Terry Taves. 

A Celebration of Life is planned for Thursday, August 15, 2024, at 1:30 pm at the Marchington home at Jardine, MT.  Family and friends are invited.

Bills ashes are currently in a Remington Country wooden box. A family cemetery service will take place at a later date. 

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