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William Howard “Bill” Eaton

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Birth	:	22 Nov 1928 River Falls, Pierce County, Wisconsin, USA
Death	:	6 Apr 2019 Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana, USA
Burial	:	Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park, Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate	:	45.7843370, -108.6072460
Description	:	Bill Eaton passed from this earth to his heavenly home on April 6, 2019. His beloved wife, Betty, had passed just 28 days earlier on March 9, 2019, leaving him heartbroken without his best friend at his side. They were blessed to celebrate their 69th wedding anniversary in November 2018. Bill entered this world in River Falls, Wisconsin, on November 22, 1928, as one of eight children born to George and Grace Eaton. After graduating from River Falls High School, Bill moved to Montana, and eventually all of his family followed and settled in the Big Timber area. His... Read More	Bill Eaton passed from this earth to his heavenly home on April 6, 2019. His beloved wife, Betty, had passed just 28 days earlier on March 9, 2019, leaving him heartbroken without his best friend at his side. They were blessed to celebrate their 69th wedding anniversary in November 2018. Bill entered this world in River Falls, Wisconsin, on November 22, 1928, as one of eight children born to George and Grace Eaton. After graduating from River Falls High School, Bill moved to Montana, and eventually all of his family followed and settled in the Big Timber area. His brother Sherm talked the family into building a truck stop nine miles south of Big Timber, and thus Eaton’s Inn was born. It was a combination of a café, a bar, a dance hall, and a gas station, along with a few cabins. It didn’t take long for the Inn to earn a stellar reputation as the place to stop for outstanding home cooking. The Inn was the magnet that drew all the Eatons together, especially at Christmas. It was in Big Timber that Bill met and married the love of his life, Betty Yost, who lived on a ranch near Melville. Together, they moved to Billings, where Bill and his father-in-law, Lenard Yost, started the Eaton and Yost Construction company. When the economy slowed down, Bill and Betty invested in Pella Windows and Doors, becoming the distributor for all of Montana. Their son Sheldon eventually took over Eaton and Yost Construction, while their sons Larry and Rod became responsible for Pella Windows and Doors. This did not mean that Betty and Bill retired. Instead, they became a team of two, driving all over the state doing window repair work for many years, and they always had stories to tell of their travels. Bill grew up during the Depression, and times were hard. He recalled a time when his childhood friend Glenn found a penny, so they decided to walk four miles barefoot to a candy store to buy a sucker. The owner felt so sorry for them that he gave them each a sucker. This story perfectly illustrates Bill’s character; he was a champion of hard, tireless work, who took great pride in everything he did, from contracting to gardening. If there were two words that best describe Bill, they would be “passionate outdoorsman.” Hunting and fishing dominated his life. His children's memories include countless hours spent stalking big game, fishing, camping, hiking, and exploring Montana’s back country on trail bikes and snowmobiles. He loved worshiping the Lord in Montana’s landscapes and was always so thankful and appreciative of what God had created. He passed these values on to his kids and grandkids. Bill and Betty left their family two priceless treasures—a cabin near Luther, Montana, and a small ranch near Melstone. The grandkids have been blessed with beautiful memories from the cabin—ice hockey on a frozen pond, partaking in maple syrup candy drizzled over a bowl of snow, massive fireworks on the Fourth of July, and hikes to the infamous bear cave. The Melstone property allowed Bill to live out his dream of being a rancher. Together, Bill and Betty spent many a day spraying weeds, a goal that was never quite accomplished at the ranch. In the evenings, it was their simple joy to watch the deer come and graze in the fields. When they weren’t at the ranch, they could be found tending a monster-sized garden and orchard adjacent to their Billings home or working on jigsaw puzzles. Bill and Betty’s lives were both devoted to caring for their kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. Bill would have given the shirt off his back to help any of them. He was a kind and gentle soul. He loved the Lord, and his family takes great comfort in knowing that he and Betty are together in heaven. You couldn’t say Bill without saying Betty; that’s just the way it was. Together they inspired, encouraged, helped, served, loved, and touched so many people in their life. Preceding Bill in death were his wife, Betty, his parents, his seven siblings, and his grandson Ryan. Bill’s funeral was held at Faith Chapel, 517 Shiloh Road, Billings, on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at 11 a.m.∼William Howard Eaton Big Timber, Montana Nov 16, 1930 – Apr 6, 2019 (Age 88) William was born on November 16, 1930 and passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2019. William was a resident of Big Timber, Montana at the time of passing.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William Howard “Bill” Eaton's memorial?
William Howard “Bill” Eaton's memorial is located at: Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park, Billings, Yellowstone County, USA.
When did William Howard “Bill” Eaton death?
William Howard “Bill” Eaton death on 6 Apr 2019 in Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William Howard “Bill” Eaton's memorial?
Latitude: 45.7843370
Longitude: -108.6072460

Family Members:

Parent

George Wayne Eaton

(1894 - 1971)

Grace E. Bunce Eaton

(1896 - 1955)

Spouse

Betty Jean Yost Eaton

(1930 - 2019)

Siblings

Lorraine Eaton Schuster

(1917 - 2011)

Sherman Morton Eaton

(1919 - 1950)

Dennis Drayton Eaton

(1920 - 1962)

Robert Wayne “Bob” Eaton

(1922 - 2007)

Jane Ann Eaton Svec

(1927 - 2013)

Owen George Eaton

(1931 - 2008)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7843370, -108.6072460

2. Terrace Gardens Cemetery
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7733900, -108.6009160

3. Calvary Cemetery
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7780991, -108.5597000

4. Sunset Memorial Gardens
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7710991, -108.5622025

5. Beth Aaron Cemetery
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7770200, -108.5589710

6. Mountview Cemetery
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7667007, -108.5588989

7. Saint Stephens Episcopal Church Columbarium
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7924000, -108.5478000

8. Absaroka Beartooth Columbarium
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7708800, -108.5355600

9. Holy Cross Cemetery
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7400017, -108.5552979

10. Cooke Cemetery
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7035500, -108.6184500

11. Luther Sage Kelly Gravesite
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7980000, -108.4888000

12. Boothill Cemetery
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.8025017, -108.4800034

13. Riverside Cemetery
Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.8218994, -108.4449997

14. Saint Anthony Catholic Cemetery
Laurel, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6939650, -108.7685320

15. Laurel Cemetery
Laurel, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6944008, -108.7692032

16. Yellowstone National Cemetery
Laurel, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6962050, -108.7726520

17. Vermandel Ranch Cemetery
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7057200, -108.3378200

18. Helm Memorial Cemetery
Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.9888992, -108.7750015

19. Pioneer Cemetery
Stillwater County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6575012, -108.8944016

20. Shepherd Cemetery
Shepherd, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.9429740, -108.3490560

21. Huntley Cemetery
Huntley, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.8988991, -108.2780991

22. Scandia Cemetery
Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.9721985, -108.3411026

23. Evangelical Cemetery
Shepherd, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.9580490, -108.3162640

24. Park City Cemetery
Park City, Stillwater County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6247120, -108.9165690