William R Byars Jr

William “Bill” R. Byars Jr. of Billings, 73, passed away in Billings with his family at his side Nov. 22, 2016, after a valiant battle with brain cancer.

Bill was born in Billings, attended grade school in Billings and graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1961. In 1963 Bill joined the U.S. Marines and proudly served in Vietnam. Upon his honorable discharge in 1966 with the rank of Sergeant E5 and designation as sharpshooter Bill returned to Billings and enrolled in Eastern Montana College.

In the fall of 1968, he met and fell in love with his best friend and the love of his life, Lia Ruff, while both were students at EMC. Bill and Lia were married in Bridger, Montana, Sept. 20, 1969. In April of 1970, Bill and Lia welcomed their first son, Brandon and later that spring Bill graduated from EMC with a business degree. From 1970 to 1974 Bill worked at the physical plant and business office at EMC.

Following the birth of their second son, Brad, in 1974, the family moved to Helena, where Bill took a job with the Montana Office of Public Instruction. In 1977 Bill was offered a position as the controller at Northern Montana College in Havre, where he worked for over 20 years, eventually becoming the director of fiscal affairs and upon his “first retirement” in 1999 was the vice chancellor for administration.

Bill was an active father and community member during his time in Havre, serving as a little league baseball coach, Cub Scout troop leader and active member of the local Human Resource Development Council, including time as the board chair. He was also an avid member of the local bowling league and The Corner Bar and Carroll’s Hallmark over-40 softball teams.

In 1999 upon his “first retirement,” Bill and Lia moved back to Billings where Bill took a position in the MSU Billings business office where he started his career 30 years earlier. Bill had his “second retirement” in 2010, allowing for more travel and visits to the grandchildren. And, in 2011, Bill took a part-time consulting position back at the business office. As much as they tried, they just couldn’t get rid of him. He was working in this capacity until his cancer diagnosis in April of this year.

A proud and honorable man, Bill was humble and strongly believed in service to others. Devoting his entire career to higher education, Bill found joy in supporting people so they could be successful. His legacy is filled with examples of kindness and always doing the right thing. He was the moral compass for many. Bill was a kind and loving man who had two main goals in life – making sure his wife and sons were happy and making sure he left the world a better place. He did both of these with resounding success.

Although quiet and reserved, Bill was a very funny man. His sons cringed when Bill would throw out one of his famous puns or riddles. “What’s a henway?” “Have you ever seen a Rolls Canardly?” A hen weighs about three pounds and Rolls Canardly rolls down one hill and can hardly make it up the next. Bill thrived on knowing useless trivia and facts and used this to his advantage with his kids, sister-in-laws, and nephews and nieces. Regularly, they were either enlightened by true facts or had the wool pulled over their eyes when Bill would completely make up stories or “facts.” He loved board games, card games, cribbage and table tennis and was quite the competitor – always giving his family fits. No one ever wanted to sit next to Bill during interactive games where one could be the victim of a Bill Byars play. His wit, charm and sense of humor brought smiles to many.

Bill loved the outdoors and enjoying the beauty around him. His backyard was a sanctuary for birds, rabbits and squirrels which he fed on a daily basis. He enjoyed road trips with his wife more than anything. Whether visiting their sons in Oregon and California or just taking a local backroad to see where it went, Bill and Lia were the dynamic duo of the road trip. By far, their favorite excursion was to Yellowstone National Park, a special place for Bill and his family.

Among his other favorites, Bill enjoyed leisurely picnic lunches at Riverside Park with his wife, visiting classic car museums or car shows, watching his beloved Chicago Bears football games, going to the “old people” discounted Tuesday movies with Lia, and watching “Jeopardy” and playing solitaire on the computer. More than anything, however, Bill enjoyed spending time with his wife and visiting his sons, their spouses and his grandchildren.