William 'Bill' Bekel, 74
William 'Bill' Bekel, 74
William "Bill" Bekel, 74, of Thompson Falls, Mont., passed away July 22, 2015, at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, Wash. Bill was born Feb. 7, 1941, in Missoula, Mont. Bill was the son of Jake and Ida Bekel of Kellogg, Idaho.
Bill attended school in Kellogg. He lived in Kellogg many years before moving to Thompson Falls and building their log home.
Bill married Janet Nickelby of Wallace, Idaho, in 1966 and they were married 27 years until her death in 1993.
In those days, Bill rode horses with Janie in Kellogg's parades and played pool with Janie and her parents, Lorraine and Leonard Nickelby, at the Longhorn in Osburn. He also enjoyed riding motorcycles with his brother, Rick and friend Joe Nacarato. Bill liked the outdoors; camping and jeeping. He and his son, Tony, liked to take their jeeps up in the hills to ride. Sometimes it was just the two of them, sometimes with a group of friends. Everyone always looked forward to Bill's homemade ice cream at the Bekel Family Reunions - which Bill never missed.
Bill worked for the Sunshine Mine for 21 years. He also worked for several mines in Nevada and California.
A memorial will be held at 4 p.m. today, July 29, 2015, at Brooks Hotel, 500 Cedar St., Wallace, for family and friends.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Jake and Ida Bekel of Kellogg; his wife, Janet Nickelby Bekel of Wallace; his brother, Rick Bekel of Ajo, Ariz.; as well as brothers-in-law, Howard Wood, Dick Price and Harold Supulver.
He is survived by his son, Tony of Liberty Lake, Wash.; his sisters, Evelyn Wood of Lewiston, Idaho, Gladys Supulver of Spokane, Dina Price of Seattle, Wash., Shirley and Charlie Peterson of Dalton Gardens, Idaho, Joyce and Mike Hutchinson of Hayden, Idaho, Carol and Bob Lindblad of Spokane; and one brother, Jake and wife Debby Bekel of Kellogg. Also, brother and sister-in-law Ted and Tish Nickelby of Burke, Idaho; and sister-in-law Rose Storjohann of Mullan, Idaho; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport, Wash., is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at sherman-knapp.com.