Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend William “Bill” Smith Fife returned to his Heavenly home at 6:30 PM on 18 July 2016 at his home in Ivins, Washington County, Utah.

Bill was born to William Stewart Fife Jr. and Lois Smith Fife in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois on 15 April 1937. He was their first son, second child in a family of nine children; two sisters (Dorothy Elayne and Miriam) and one brother (Joseph Allen) died as infants. He grew up with: Richard, Keith, Roger, Kathryn, and Bruce Fife. As his father attended medical school, they moved from SLC, Utah, to Stockton, California, Detroit and Huntington Woods, Michigan, Gridley, California, and Sacramento, California where Bill graduated from El Camino High.

During high school Bill joined the air national guard. He signed up for the Navy serving his country from 1957-1961. In 1958, three Argus explosions were shot into the air from his ship. The story was leaked to the “The Providence Journal” on 19 Mar 1959. Project Argus missiles was one of the best kept US military secrets since World War II. Discharged 31 Mar 1963 as Aviation Electronics Technician Third Class, his superior wrote that he was “A man of excellent moral character and ability, his loyalty and devotion to duty while in the US Navy was important to those who worked with him.”

Bill served in the Southern Australia Mission from 1961-1963. At BYU he met Emma Hafen. They were married 30 December 1964 in the Salt Lake Temple, with his grandfather Joseph Fielding Smith officiating. Graduating from BYU in May 1968, they moved to Ivins, Utah.

Work included: US Navy, Farm Worker, Forestry Service, BLM, Soil Conservation Service, Ence Brother’s Feed, Rocky Mountain Produce, Washington County School District, St. George Temple, and St. George Post Office.

A faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bill served as a home teacher since the age of 14; released only due to Alzheimer’s disease. Bill was coordinator of the LDS servicemen stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas during the Navy and Elder’s Quorum Secretary at BYU. He was the first Executive Secretary in the Ivins ward. He served in the following positions in Ivins: Gospel Doctrine teacher, MIA teacher/counselor, Cub Scout den leader/merit badge counselor, Primary nursery, Teacher Development Leader, Sunday School President/Secretary, Elders Quorum/High Priest secretary, Assistant Ward Clerk (membership, financial), St. George Temple officiator and family history consultant. The position Bill felt was the most important was that of father and grandfather.

Loving father to four daughters and one son, he often helped care for sick children when they were younger; helping patiently when his wife Emma was ill, and giving loving support to his eldest daughter Jennifer when she suffered with leukemia. Bill always said the hardest thing he would have to face was to have one of his children die before him. He was put to the test on the 25 December 1994 when his firstborn Jennifer died. Years later while suffering from Alzheimer’s disease he still remembered and missed his beloved daughter. Bill taught his children to drive a car, grow a garden, and get wood for winter. He encouraged his children to do their best in life; to be good students, good citizens, and enjoy life. He was pleased that his son achieved his Eagle rank and his daughters achieved their Young Womanhood Recognition Awards. He danced with them on special occasions, even though he didn’t like dancing and felt he had two “left feet”. He loved BYU football games, scouting, camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, telling jokes and stories, teasing, and music. He took accordion and Karate lessons when his children were growing up.

Survived by his wife Emma and children: Mary Anna (Kevin) Henke, Ruth (Branton) Campbell. Dr. Joseph (Theresa) Fife, and Wilma (Lewis) Elison. Grandpa to 15 grandchildren: Sara Henke Burnett; Karolyn, Joshua, Hyrum, Charity, Seth, and Aaron Campbell; Jacob, Joseph, Jonathan, Elijah, Abigail, and Daniel Fife; William and Lois Elison. Great-grandchildren: Haven, Bryden, Brecken, and Kinzlee. Siblings: Dr. Richard (Adele) Fife, Keith Fife, Dr. Roger (Christa) Fife, Kathryn (Craig) Thomas, and Bruce (Leslie) Fife. Proceeded in death by his parents: Dr. William Stewart Fife Jr. and Lois Smith Fife, sisters Dorothy Elayne and Miriam, brother Joseph Allen, and daughter Jennifer.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, 28 July 2016 at 11:00 AM at the Ivins LDS Stake Center at 260 East 1060 South, Ivins, UT. Viewings will be held the day of services at the chapel from 9:30 to 10:30 AM and the night before 27 July 2016 from 6-8 PM at Spilsbury Mortuary, St. George, UT (435) 673-2454. Family and friends are invited to sign the guest book at www.spilsburymortuary.com. Interment will be in the Ivins City Cemetery.