William Slocum

William A. "Bill" Slocum, 85, of Garfield, passed away February 5, 2019, at Whitman Hospital in Colfax, Wash.

Bill was born in Shelby, Montana, on April 1, 1933, to Baldridge A. and Frances L. Slocum. He was the fourth of six children. The family moved to Whitefish, Montana, where he attended school and graduated from Whitefish High with the class of 1952.

He joined the U.S. Navy and was in the Naval Air Corp as an Aviation Electronics Technician and served on the USS Oriskany. Bill was honorably discharged in 1956 and then enlisted in the National Guard for an additional four years.

He married Delores Genger in 1956 and they resided in Whitefish. They later divorced. Bill married Lynda Byrne in 1967 and they made their home in Garfield, Wash.

Bill was a man of great strength with many talents and a strong work ethic. All of which contributed to his variety of occupations; starting with a paper route at the age of six and ski patrol while in high school. He had numerous jobs, some of which included Great Northern and Northern Pacific Railroads, Potlatch Corporation, Washington State University, Bennett Lumber, Grange Supply Manager, and Towns of Garfield and Endicott. He also dug many graves by hand for area cemeteries. In 1987, he started long-haul trucking, driving for Mayflower, Glacier Carriers, Carnaco and Nestles. He also drove for many local companies before retiring from NuChem at the age of 74. He was a member of the American Legion and Ladow Grange.

Bill is survived by his wife, Lynda in Garfield; his children, Eric (Shelley) Slocum of Palouse, and Heidi (Ben) Elder of Colbert; grandchildren, Jake (Sara) Strissel, Rudyard, Mont., Matthew Strissel, Flagstaff, Ariz., Josh (Katie) Strissel, Bozeman, Mont., Brock (Jamie) Slocum, Palouse, Wash., Blake (Shelby) Slocum, Pensacola, Fla., Layna Elder, Colbert, Landon Elder, and Lauryn Elder both of Bozeman, Mont .; great-grandchildren Brandon and Emma Jo Strissel, Bozeman Mont., and Cooper Slocum, Palouse, Wash .; sisters-in-law, Frankie, Whitefish, Mont., Sylvia, Mesa, Ariz., Marty, Spokane, Wash .; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Baldridge; mother, Frances; siblings, Robert, Rosalie, Mary, Bruce, Bernard; and his son, Bill Strissel; and daughter-in-law, Nellie Jo Strissel.

A memorial service will be held April 13, 2019, at 2:00 pm at the Garfield Christian Church. Memorial donations may be made to Garfield Farmington EMS, 308 W California Street, Garfield WA 99130.