William Clarence (Bill) Stith Obituary - Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel and Crematory

William Clarence (Bill) Stith, an honorable, hard working, loving man and mentor, passed away Monday, January 30, 2012 due to Mantel Cell Lymphoma. He was at his home surrounded by his family. He was 88. Bill was a husband, father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was respected and loved by many and his friendships were treasured. A celebration of Bill and Roberta’s lives, will be held Saturday, Feb. 4, at 3 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Rockies First United Methodist Church , 717 N. 11 ^th Street , Boise , ID. Services are under the direction of Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel. A viewing for Bill will be held Friday evening from 4-7 p.m. at Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel, 5400 West Fairview Avenue , Boise .

Bill was born to Jennie Sarah Emilie Hinrichs and Albert Raymond Stith (nicknamed Dick) in Oakdale , Nebraska . He was the second child and only son of five children and grew up in Brule, Nebraska . In 1932, the family moved to Murtaugh , Idaho . Bill’s father had developed lung issues from the mustard gas he had been exposed to in World War I. Bill’s mother, Jennie, missed her family and with Bill’s father’s declining health, the family moved back to Brule in 1934. Bill was ambitious, and had a weekly delivery of multiple magazines and delivered the Omaha World Herald daily from the time he was 10 years old until he was 15 years old. At the age of 15, Bill bought his first truck in 1938 and took the responsibility of supporting his parents and sisters through the family trucking business. He graduated from Brule High School in 1941.

Bill joined the Navy on November 12, 1942. He traveled to St. Louis , MO , and was sent to Boot Camp at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois . Bill served as a Motor Machinist Mate, Second Class, and was taught in machinist and electrical work. He served on the mine-sweeper, USS Motive, and his first tour was the South Pacific.

Bill met Roberta Ann Gilbert in the spring of 1942. They were married March 26, 1944. He returned to the Motive for his second tour in the Asiatic Pacific. When the War ended, he was sent to St. Louis , MO by train where he was discharged from the Navy on October 17, 1945.

Bill and Roberta’s first son, Leslie, was born March 12, 1946. With this added responsibility, Bill decided to continue his education. He graduated from The National Trade School in Kansas City , Missouri in 1948. Following his graduation, Bill and his family moved to Idaho . Bill and Roberta started Tri-State Electric, Incorporated in October 1963. It grew from two employees to over 100 employees, and Bill’s son Max acquired the business in 1993.

Max was born in 1953 and daughter, LuAnn, was born in 1957. The family loved sports, and in later years, Bill and Roberta rarely missed their grandchildren’s games. Bill was also an avid fan of Boise State Football and supported BSU from the time it became a university. Tri State was an original and current Bronco Athletic Association member.

Bill could do almost anything when it came to ‘projects.’ It was said that if one was ever to be marooned on an island, Bill needed to be there. He could do practically everything when it came to building something and making it work. This summer, even though he had cancer, he could be found building a ramp to make it easier for Roberta to get into the house with her walker. His attention to detail in all his work was incredible, and is something all of his great grandchildren will hear about for years to come.

Bill began planning toward retirement from the family business in 1985 and personally built, along with brother-in-law Franklin and a few other friends, a winter home in Lake Havasu City , Arizona . It took him five years, but it was HIS home, and it was as close to perfection as possible. Bill enjoyed boating, fishing, and traveling.

Bill was a retired member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and was Past Chairman of the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. He was Past President of the Intermountain Chapter and Idaho Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association. He served two terms as Governor of the Idaho Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association. In 1985, he was honored as a Fellow of the Academy of National Electrical Contractors .

Bill and Roberta were members of the Whitney United Methodist Church . Bill received the Lions Club “Life Member Award” in 2010.. He served as Past Noble Grand Independent Order of Odd fellows, and a member of the Masonic Lodge, advancing to the 33 ^rd Degree York Rite. He was a member of the Shrine E L Korah Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S. of Boise , and a Past Associate Guardian of Jobs Daughters.

Bill will be missed for his incredible devotion to family, his generosity, and his tremendous zest for life. His honesty and integrity will always be admired. His love will carry us on.

Internment will be at Cloverdale Terrace Lawn Memorial Gardens at 11:00 a.m., Monday, February 6, 2012.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Todd Stith Memorial Scholarship Fund at Capital High School , c/o Capital High School , 8055 Goddard Rd. , Boise , ID 83704 ; Mountain States Tumor Institute, 190 East Bannock St. , Boise , ID 83702., or St. Luke’s Hospice, 325 West Idaho Street , Boise , ID 83702 ..

The family would like to thank you for your love and friendship. They offer a special thanks to Bobbi Yarbrough and Michelle and Naomi Pineda. They have become family, and the love and care they provided to Roberta and Bill was exceptional by any measure.

William Clarence (Bill) Stith

William Clarence (Bill) Stith

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