William Richard “Bill” Sacrison, 84, passed away April 8, 2015.

 Bill was born Aug. 8, 1930, in Bowman, North Dakota, to Hans E. Sacrison and Lillian L. (Haivala) Sacrison. He spent his boyhood years in Harding County, South Dakota, and graduated from Buffalo High School in 1948. During the summers, Bill worked on several sheep and cattle ranches around Buffalo and always appreciated that he had the opportunity to participate in those last few years when horses were used for all ranch work, including mowing, raking and hauling hay. During the fall and winter months, hunting and trapping provided not only recreation but also income and a source of meat for the table.  

Bill and Mary N. Hedges were married Aug. 23, 1952, in Buffalo, South Dakota. Bill graduated from South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City in 1953. His college education was financed primarily by working in construction as a laborer, carpenter and cement finisher.

Bill served in the U.S. Navy from 1953 through 1956. After completing Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, Bill was stationed at the Pentagon and then attended several Navy schools in Washington, D.C., and San Diego. He taught at the Amphibious Intelligence School in Coronado, California, for the balance of his active military service. Part of the training schedule was aboard the Amphibious Force Flagship, Mt. Olympus (GC8). Bill was also a life member of the American Legion, Post 147 of Buffalo, South Dakota.

After receiving a master’s degree at the University of Wyoming in 1958, Bill enjoyed an interesting and challenging career as a geophysicist-geologist with AMOCO Production Company (now BP) where he was involved in significant discoveries of oil and gas reserves. The family lived in Casper, Wyoming, and Denver. Work took Bill to all the Western states; Alaska; London; Madrid and southern Spain; Ankara, Turkey, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He was a longtime member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Denver Geophysical Society and Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists. 

Bill retired from AMOCO and Mary retired from teaching math in 1986, after which time they moved from Denver and built a new home near Kalispell. Bill was an accomplished carpenter and enjoyed building furniture, working on their home and was always busy doing projects with his grandchildren. He so enjoyed the outdoors and looked forward to creating a winter wonderland for his grandchildren with ski trails, a sledding hill and ice-skating rink.

After retiring, Bill and Mary enjoyed traveling to several countries, including Australia, New Zealand, South and Central America, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway.

Bill truly loved his family and is eternally grateful to Mary for sharing her life with him. In 2002, Bill and Mary returned to the same small community where they were married to celebrate their 50th anniversary among many relatives and friends, and recently celebrated their 62nd anniversary. Bill’s daughters and their families provided countless hours of pride, joy and satisfaction. Some of his most enjoyable times were his many camping and fishing trips with his grandchildren.  

Bill had a special love for his country and was always grateful for the freedom and opportunities it provided. In lieu of memorial gifts, Bill’s memory can best be served by simply being honest, responsible and patriotic citizens of this great nation. Although, friends and family may contribute to the Wounded Warrior Project, a cause Bill supported. Bill was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Kalispell. 

Bill is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Karen and Bob Leach of Missoula, and Diane and Doug Ginsbach of Casper, Wyoming; grandchildren, Jake and Luke Ginsbach, Garrett and Hannah “Hanni” Leach, and Marya Leach Morrow and Ben; two brothers, C. Robert “Bob” and Loydene, and Hans and LeAna; sister-in-law, Ruthann Sacrison; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother John “Jack” Sacrison and nephew Steven Sacrison.

Burial and services will be held in South Dakota this summer.