Michael Perry Bills

Michael Perry Bills, 67, of Libby died Sept. 16, 2009.

He was born July 7, 1942 at Provo, Utah to Max Victor and Thora Perry Bills – the youngest of five children. He graduated from Springville High School in 1960.  He was married to Linda Snell from 1960-92. The couple had five children. 

Mr. Bills had a 42-year career with the federal government, starting in 1961 with the Transmission System Office. The job took him to Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. In 1964, he began work with the Bureau of Reclamation on the Ruedi Dam in Colorado.

In 1969, he started working with the U.S. Forest Service as a surveyor in Alturas, Calif. In 1970, he moved to Lakeview, Ore., to work as a construction inspector and contracting officer’s representative. In 1975, he made his final move to Libby where he worked as a construction and maintenance engineer, project team leader and transportation planner.  In 1989, he changed his career field and became a contracting officer until his retirement from the USFS in 2003.

After retirement, he worked as an estimator with Kootenai Paving and Construction and at Montana Athletic Club until his death.

Mr. Bills enjoyed mentally challenging work and doing mathematical calculations. His life mentor was a Bureau of Reclamation boss, John W. Ross, who greatly affected his life and motivated him to do high quality work. He was known as a hard worker who served in many capacities with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He enjoyed raising retired greyhounds, exercising, camping, fishing, hiking, reading, classical music and woodworking. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Max Victor and Thora Perry Bills; brother, Keith Alexander Bills; sister, Norma Jean Read; and an infant brother who died at birth.

He is survived by sons, Michael Perry Bills Jr., Philip Andrew Bills and Alma Alexander Bills; daughters Peggy Jean Halsey and Lorie Ann Short; brother, Mark Victor Bills; and grandchildren, Jessica, Amber, Ashley and Keegan Halsey, and Sophie and Kelton Bills.

Memorial services are scheduled for noon on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with interment following at the Libby Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to: Hospice of Spokane (509-456-0438), The Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation (800-659-1991) or the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center (216-362-0587).