Memorials › William "Bill" Lance
William "Bill" Lance
1935 – 1 Dec 2012
| Birth | 1935 |
| Death | 1 Dec 2012 |
| Cemetery | Sunset Memorial Gardens Billings , Yellowstone County , Montana , USA |
| Added by | Karen Griswold Stroh on 09 Dec 2012 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/101938137 |
Bio
William (Bill) Lance, son of William and Adeline Lance of Billings, passed away peacefully on Dec. 1, after a prolonged struggle with dementia. He was 77 years old. Bill was a lifelong Montanan, spending his early years in the Broadview and Ryegate areas. He graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Agricultural Engineering. By his senior year he was an accomplished pilot and rose to the level of Cadet Colonel in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. (ROTC). Bill went on to spend 22 years in the U.S. Air Force, playing a role in such world events as the Cuban Missile Crisis and serving his country in Vietnam. His military career took him and the family to many of the bases across the country in Arkansas, Texas, Massachusetts, South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana. In his final assignment, he returned to Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls and retired in l980 as a Lieutenant Colonel in command of the 12th Missile Squadron. After retirement from the Air Force, Bill spent six years at Concordia College in Portland, Ore., serving first in the development group and later as their registrar. As a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, serving the church at Concordia fulfilled a lifelong goal. In 1987 Bill retired again and took to the road with his wife Donna in a recreation vehicle, traveling the U.S., Canada, and Mexico for 10 years. Bill and Donna came back to Montana and split their time between the two places they called home, Whitefish and Billings. Ultimately they settled in Billings where Bill volunteered as a veterans' driver and was known as Mr. Tic-Tac at Trinity Lutheran School, where he was loved dearly. If you could catch him at recess you got a Tic-Tac. Bill's passions in life were his family, church, flying and enjoying the outdoors. He loved fishing the lakes and rivers from Montana to Minnesota, Canada and Alaska and hunting elk, deer, and antelope with his hunting buddies and two sons. He loved cross country skiing, paddling his canoe and kayak, flying the family Super Cub, and anything that would get him outdoors. He leaves his wife, Donna, of 54 years; and three children, Renee (her two sons Bob and Joe), Ryan (his wife Lisa, their son Nick and daughter Hannah) and Randall. He is also survived by one sister, Gayle Vollin. Memorials are requested to Trinity Lutheran Church and School or to Ambassadors of Reconciliation. The family appreciates the excellent care he has received this past year at Canyon Creek Memory Care. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens at 10:30 on Saturday, Dec. 15, with military honors followed by a memorial service at Trinity Lutheran Church at noon. Smith Funeral Chapel is managing the arrangements.
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