William Finch, 78, of Gillette died at Campbell County Memorial Hospital on Monday, Oct. 3, 2011, of natural causes.
He was born May 1, 1933, in Forsyth, Mont., the son of Walter and Leola (Kamhoot) Finch. He attended grade school in Colstrip, Mont., and then went to Rosebud, Mont., during his freshman through junior years of high school.
His family then moved to Blackfoot, Idaho, where he completed his senior year and graduated high school. After high school, he attended Idaho State College for two years, where he studied electronics.
In August 1953, he volunteered to join the Navy. After boot camp in San Diego, he attended an Electronics Technician school at Treasure Island of San Francisco Bay.
Following his electronics schooling, he was stationed on the USS Laws 558. In August 1957, William was transferred to the USS Yarnal 541, then to the San Diego Naval Station where he was honorably discharged with the rank of ETII (Electronic Technician, 2nd class Petty Officer).
Upon his honorable discharge, he moved to Martinsdale, Mont., to be with family. He then attended Montana State University, where he graduated in 1967, with a bachelor's of science degree in Industrial Arts of Industry.
After realizing he would have to leave the Mountain West for employment, he returned to school earning a teaching certification in industrial arts with a minor in economics.
While attending college, he met and married Betty Engberg on Feb. 21, 1969. Together the couple had three daughters.
He taught auto mechanics for 23 years at Campbell County High School. He especially enjoyed watching his students participate in the Plymouth Trouble Shooting Contest.
In 1976, his students won the state contest and earned a trip to Chicago to compete in nationals. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his family. He was a member of the American Legion Post 42 and the Gillette AM Lions Club. He participated in the 4-J School Pen Pal Program, and volunteered his time for the Senior Center newsletter and the Gillette Masters Special Olympics.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years; his daughter, Vera Neal of Westville, Ind.; brothers, Jim Finch of Billings, Mont., and John Finch of Fairfield, Mont., and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandparents; daughters, Barbara and Karen Finch and sisters, Leola Finch, Joyce Funk and Hazel Gee.
Memorials and condolences may be sent in his name in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 W. 5 Street, Gillette, WY 82716 or condolences may be posted via the internet at www.gillettememorialchapel.com or attached to the obituary on the News Record's website at www.gillettenewsrecord.com.
Funeral services for William "Bill" H. Finch will at 2 p.m. Monday at Gillette Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Ernie Bishop of the Gillette Church of Christ officiating.
Military Honors will be provided by American Legion Post 42. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. at Gillette Memorial Chapel prior to the service. Burial will be on a later date in Forsyth, Mont.
He was born May 1, 1933, in Forsyth, Mont., the son of Walter and Leola (Kamhoot) Finch. He attended grade school in Colstrip, Mont., and then went to Rosebud, Mont., during his freshman through junior years of high school.
His family then moved to Blackfoot, Idaho, where he completed his senior year and graduated high school. After high school, he attended Idaho State College for two years, where he studied electronics.
In August 1953, he volunteered to join the Navy. After boot camp in San Diego, he attended an Electronics Technician school at Treasure Island of San Francisco Bay.
Following his electronics schooling, he was stationed on the USS Laws 558. In August 1957, William was transferred to the USS Yarnal 541, then to the San Diego Naval Station where he was honorably discharged with the rank of ETII (Electronic Technician, 2nd class Petty Officer).
Upon his honorable discharge, he moved to Martinsdale, Mont., to be with family. He then attended Montana State University, where he graduated in 1967, with a bachelor's of science degree in Industrial Arts of Industry.
After realizing he would have to leave the Mountain West for employment, he returned to school earning a teaching certification in industrial arts with a minor in economics.
While attending college, he met and married Betty Engberg on Feb. 21, 1969. Together the couple had three daughters.
He taught auto mechanics for 23 years at Campbell County High School. He especially enjoyed watching his students participate in the Plymouth Trouble Shooting Contest.
In 1976, his students won the state contest and earned a trip to Chicago to compete in nationals. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his family. He was a member of the American Legion Post 42 and the Gillette AM Lions Club. He participated in the 4-J School Pen Pal Program, and volunteered his time for the Senior Center newsletter and the Gillette Masters Special Olympics.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years; his daughter, Vera Neal of Westville, Ind.; brothers, Jim Finch of Billings, Mont., and John Finch of Fairfield, Mont., and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandparents; daughters, Barbara and Karen Finch and sisters, Leola Finch, Joyce Funk and Hazel Gee.
Memorials and condolences may be sent in his name in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 W. 5 Street, Gillette, WY 82716 or condolences may be posted via the internet at www.gillettememorialchapel.com or attached to the obituary on the News Record's website at www.gillettenewsrecord.com.
Funeral services for William "Bill" H. Finch will at 2 p.m. Monday at Gillette Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Ernie Bishop of the Gillette Church of Christ officiating.
Military Honors will be provided by American Legion Post 42. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. at Gillette Memorial Chapel prior to the service. Burial will be on a later date in Forsyth, Mont.
William Finch, 78, of Gillette died at Campbell County Memorial Hospital on Monday, Oct. 3, 2011, of natural causes.
He was born May 1, 1933, in Forsyth, Mont., the son of Walter and Leola (Kamhoot) Finch. He attended grade school in Colstrip, Mont., and then went to Rosebud, Mont., during his freshman through junior years of high school.
His family then moved to Blackfoot, Idaho, where he completed his senior year and graduated high school. After high school, he attended Idaho State College for two years, where he studied electronics.
In August 1953, he volunteered to join the Navy. After boot camp in San Diego, he attended an Electronics Technician school at Treasure Island of San Francisco Bay.
Following his electronics schooling, he was stationed on the USS Laws 558. In August 1957, William was transferred to the USS Yarnal 541, then to the San Diego Naval Station where he was honorably discharged with the rank of ETII (Electronic Technician, 2nd class Petty Officer).
Upon his honorable discharge, he moved to Martinsdale, Mont., to be with family. He then attended Montana State University, where he graduated in 1967, with a bachelor's of science degree in Industrial Arts of Industry.
After realizing he would have to leave the Mountain West for employment, he returned to school earning a teaching certification in industrial arts with a minor in economics.
While attending college, he met and married Betty Engberg on Feb. 21, 1969. Together the couple had three daughters.
He taught auto mechanics for 23 years at Campbell County High School. He especially enjoyed watching his students participate in the Plymouth Trouble Shooting Contest.
In 1976, his students won the state contest and earned a trip to Chicago to compete in nationals. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his family. He was a member of the American Legion Post 42 and the Gillette AM Lions Club. He participated in the 4-J School Pen Pal Program, and volunteered his time for the Senior Center newsletter and the Gillette Masters Special Olympics.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years; his daughter, Vera Neal of Westville, Ind.; brothers, Jim Finch of Billings, Mont., and John Finch of Fairfield, Mont., and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandparents; daughters, Barbara and Karen Finch and sisters, Leola Finch, Joyce Funk and Hazel Gee.
Memorials and condolences may be sent in his name in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 W. 5 Street, Gillette, WY 82716 or condolences may be posted via the internet at www.gillettememorialchapel.com or attached to the obituary on the News Record's website at www.gillettenewsrecord.com.
Funeral services for William "Bill" H. Finch will at 2 p.m. Monday at Gillette Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Ernie Bishop of the Gillette Church of Christ officiating.
Military Honors will be provided by American Legion Post 42. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. at Gillette Memorial Chapel prior to the service. Burial will be on a later date in Forsyth, Mont.
He was born May 1, 1933, in Forsyth, Mont., the son of Walter and Leola (Kamhoot) Finch. He attended grade school in Colstrip, Mont., and then went to Rosebud, Mont., during his freshman through junior years of high school.
His family then moved to Blackfoot, Idaho, where he completed his senior year and graduated high school. After high school, he attended Idaho State College for two years, where he studied electronics.
In August 1953, he volunteered to join the Navy. After boot camp in San Diego, he attended an Electronics Technician school at Treasure Island of San Francisco Bay.
Following his electronics schooling, he was stationed on the USS Laws 558. In August 1957, William was transferred to the USS Yarnal 541, then to the San Diego Naval Station where he was honorably discharged with the rank of ETII (Electronic Technician, 2nd class Petty Officer).
Upon his honorable discharge, he moved to Martinsdale, Mont., to be with family. He then attended Montana State University, where he graduated in 1967, with a bachelor's of science degree in Industrial Arts of Industry.
After realizing he would have to leave the Mountain West for employment, he returned to school earning a teaching certification in industrial arts with a minor in economics.
While attending college, he met and married Betty Engberg on Feb. 21, 1969. Together the couple had three daughters.
He taught auto mechanics for 23 years at Campbell County High School. He especially enjoyed watching his students participate in the Plymouth Trouble Shooting Contest.
In 1976, his students won the state contest and earned a trip to Chicago to compete in nationals. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his family. He was a member of the American Legion Post 42 and the Gillette AM Lions Club. He participated in the 4-J School Pen Pal Program, and volunteered his time for the Senior Center newsletter and the Gillette Masters Special Olympics.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years; his daughter, Vera Neal of Westville, Ind.; brothers, Jim Finch of Billings, Mont., and John Finch of Fairfield, Mont., and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandparents; daughters, Barbara and Karen Finch and sisters, Leola Finch, Joyce Funk and Hazel Gee.
Memorials and condolences may be sent in his name in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 W. 5 Street, Gillette, WY 82716 or condolences may be posted via the internet at www.gillettememorialchapel.com or attached to the obituary on the News Record's website at www.gillettenewsrecord.com.
Funeral services for William "Bill" H. Finch will at 2 p.m. Monday at Gillette Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Ernie Bishop of the Gillette Church of Christ officiating.
Military Honors will be provided by American Legion Post 42. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. at Gillette Memorial Chapel prior to the service. Burial will be on a later date in Forsyth, Mont.
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