Bill was born November 21, 1924, in Rathdrum, ID. He was the third of four children born to Patrick Albert and Selah May (Ernsberger) Monaghan; he passed away February 12, 2014, at Yuma Medical Center, in Yuma, Ariz.

Bill had a rough childhood, first losing his baby sister Francis shortly after her birth, his mother Selah just a year later, and his older sister the day after his 16th birthday. So, family had a very special meaning for him throughout his life. Special thanks to Uncle Elmer, Aunt Verg, cousin Frank and Mary Decker. You made life bearable.

After the start of World War Two, Bill joined the Army as a Paratrooper serving in the Pacific theater. While attached to the Sixth Ranger Battalion, he participated in the liberation of New Guinea, a 108 day battle over the Owen Stanley Range to Port Moresby. Their next operation was as part of the liberation of the Island of Luzon. While there, Bill was part of two hundred that liberated the POW camp at Cabanatuan, one of his proudest and saddest memories of the war. He spent his last months of service as a prison guard at the war crimes prison in Tokyo, and was later discharged at the rank of Tech Sgt.

After the war, Bill returned to the Northwest to begin his logging career. In 1947 he met the love of his life, Alice Bolich, and they were married in June of that year. He spent the next 20 years raising a family, working in the woods, racing stock cars, and doing lots of fishing.

In the late sixties Bill got out of logging, and became a heavy equipment operator/mechanic working for Moen Sand & Gravel, trans-Alaska pipeline, and Central Pre-Mix, where he retired. He spent his last years wintering in Arizona with sister-in-law/companion/caregiver, Sharon Bolich; friends, Jim and Linda Beuchner; Jim and Linda Watson; and Don and Denise Sears. 

Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Alice; mother, Selah, and father, Patrick Albert; sisters: Maxine and Francis, and brother, Patrick John (Jack). He is survived by son, William Jr. (Cindy) of Post Falls; daughter, Lynda (Kelly) of Kissemmee, Fla.; son, Mike (Heather) of Post Falls; and grandson, Mike Jr., who was raised by Bill and Alice; grandchildren: Eric, Talitha, Ryan, Hilary, Daniel, Madison, and Kylee; 14 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and a large extended family.

Per Bill's request, there will be no funeral services, but later in the spring a celebration of his life will be held.