William Ray Bill Whitmore

William R. "Bill" Whitmore was born May 18, 1942 in Forsyth, MT, the son of Dorothy (Brown) Whitmore and Arthur Campbell. He was raised by his mother and grandmother until age 6 when he went to live with his aunt and uncle, Myrtle and Stewart Armstrong, on a ranch 10 miles outside of Meeteetse, WY. He attended school for grades 1-7 in Meeteetse. In 1955 he moved back to live with his mother in Billings, MT and attended the 8th grade at Fratt Catholic School in Billings. Bill graduated from Billings Central High School in 1961. He was a high school football star and earned a scholarship to Powell Junior College in Powell, WY. He married his high school sweetheart, Mary Gaudet in Billings in 1961. They were divorced 11 years later. The couple had five children: Bill, Julie, and Monica, who all live in Mesa, AZ and Lori who lives in Cape Coral, Florida; a son Matthew died in infancy.Bill went to work for the Burlington Northern Railroad in Missoula in 1965 as a clerk. He went to the University in Missoula briefly, but dropped out due to family obligations. He transferred to Bozeman with the railroad as a clerk. In 1972 he moved to Livingston and continued working there as a clerk.Bill married Lindsay Madding in 1976 in Livingston. They had four children: daughters, Damien, Crystal, and Jusenta; and a son Brock. Bill and Lindsay were divorced in 1983. Bill continued to work for BNSF until they discontinued operations in Livingston in 1986. He received disability retirement status in Dec of 1988. Bill then worked as a volunteer in Yellowstone Park for several years-from 1989-96. He also volunteered with the Park Co Rural Fire Dept for two years.He married Mardella Ridenour in Livingston in 1987.Bill worked with a team of men in prison ministry at the Montana State Prison for over 15 years. They also ministered at the Crossroads Prison in Shelby, MT. He and the prison ministry team worked mostly in Montana but were asked to participate with others at the Washington State Prison in Walla Walla, WA as well as other prisons. Bill was very devoted to helping others through prison ministry, twelve-step groups and Cursillo weekends.Bill began to have symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in 2011 and his ability to function steadily declined. He was moved to the Frontier Assisted Living and Memory Care facility in January 2015 where he passed on to his eternal home with the Lord on March 28, 2020, surrounded by the love of his family.Bill was preceded in death by his parents, special aunt and uncle, Myrtle and Stewart Armstrong; an older sister, Myrna "Mitzie" and her husband, Leo Hodnik; son, Matthew and granddaughter, Lila Rose. He is survived by his wife, Mardi; eight children, Bill, Julie, Lori, Monica, Damien, Crystal, Jusenta, and Brock; three step- daughters, Julie, Lisa and Rebecca; seventeen grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and three step great-grandchildren; and his older brother, Dick Whitmore, who lives in Missoula; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.Burial will be at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Billings. A celebration of life will be held at a future date.