William "Bill" Lee Willey, 78, of Coalville, Utah, formerly of Hulett. Wyoming & Belle Fourche, South Dakota gained his heavenly wings at Intermountain Healthcare in Murray, Utah on February 4, 2021 with his loving family holding his hands as he transitioned from this life and onto his next journey.

Bill was born in Belle Fourche, South Dakota on February 9, 1942 to Lee Everett and Lola Irene (McAmis) Willey.

His life began on the T-Cross Ranch in Alva, Wyoming with the family moving to the ranch on Blacktail Creek in the winter of 1949. He attended the Cotton School on Blacktail Creek and graduated from Hulett High School in 1960.

In 1961 he began his career in heavy equipment working for LP Larson in Colony, Wyoming. In 1975 he ventured out on his own doing reclamation for the bentonite company and then established a logging team working for Johnson Sawmill Homestake Mining and Neiman Inc.

In 1989 he left Wyoming for Winnemucca, Nevada where he worked for 21 years for Santa Fe Pacific Gold and later Newmont Gold as a heavy equipment mechanic.

Bill never met a stranger and if he didn't know you he would soon have you telling him your life story.

On July 28, 1962, he married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Ann Bunney in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. To this union three daughters were born; Rhonda, Kerri & Courtney.

Retiring from Newmont Gold in 2010 he returned to the family ranch on Blacktail Creek and called it home until the land sale in 2018 and then made Belle Fourche, South Dakota home again. In October 2019 he and Barbara found their "forever" home they loved in Coalville, Utah close to family. He loved his granddaughters popping in to give him loves nearly every day.

He was a member and Past Master of Tower Lodge No 44 AFAM, Past Patron of Pine Cone Chapter No 41 of Hulett, Wyoming.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara of 58 years, daughters; Rhonda (Bob) Glover of Menifee, California, Kerri (Shayn) Nielson of Winnemucca, NV and Courtney (Brian) Williams of Coalville, UT, grandchildren; Cory, Matthew, Trey & Blake Willey, Trevor, Tyler & Teesha Nielson and London & Charlotte Williams, great-grandchildren, Knox & Kane Nielson, and Aiden & Charlie Willey, brothers Roger (Donna) Willey of Beulah, WY, Howard (Sue) Willey of Harrison, Nebraska, and sister, Marlys (Frank) Proctor of Carlile, Wyoming and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill is preceded in death by his grandparents William & Hildur McAmis, George & Mary Willey, parents, Lola Irene & Lee Everett Willey, brothers Calvin & George Willey, sisters, Marilyn (Chicken) McLaughlin & Marsha Willey, grandson, Ryder James Williams, and in-laws Ernest & Helen Bunney.

To those that love Bill a public funeral was held on Thursday, February 11, 2021, at the United Methodist Church in Belle Fourche, South Dakota with interment immediately following at the cemetery in Alva, Wyoming. The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to the Alva Cemetery. His service may be watched on the funeral homes website.

Bill's funeral may be viewed following the funeral.