William L. West, 89, of Libby

William Lee “Bill” West, 89, made his way home to Cowboy Heaven, passing away peacefully at his home in Libby on Memorial Day, May 27, 2013.

Born in Spokane, Wash., on July 14, 1923, to Gillard and Etta Mae West, he was the fifth child out of six. He graduated from John Rogers High School in 1942. He then joined the U.S. Army and served from 1943 to 1946 as an Army medic. During that time, he met his bride, MaryLee Westbrook, and they were married in March 1946. They had three children, Sherri, Tom and Tim.

Bill held down many different jobs after his Army days. He was a landscaper, supplied sawdust to more than 1,500 people/businesses at a time when they were heating with biomoss in Spokane, worked for Great Northern Railway, logging, ranching/farming. 

He met Rachel Brewer and they married in June 1984. 

He will be sorely missed by the people who really knew him, worked with him and just hung out with them.  Bill was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Kenneth, Eugene and Jack, and his sister Margaret.

Survivors include his wife Rachel, Libby; a sister Katherine and son Jerry of Washington; daughter Sherri (Roger), Moyie Springs, Idaho; sons Tom (Mary), Auburn, Wash.; Tim (Lisa), Bonners Ferry, Idaho; stepdaughters Diana (Dennis), Tacoma, Wash.; Karen (David), Everett, Wash.; nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, 12 step great, great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, June 17, at The Springs of Living Water Free Methodist Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.  

Local arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby.