Bill Mitchell

Bill Michael Mitchell
Evanston, WY.: Bill Michael Mitchell, passed away on Monday, April 14, 2014 at Rocky Mountain Care Center, Evanston, WY.;  at the age of 83.  He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Febuary 1, 1931, the son of William Vivian and Ella Marie (Marsden) Mitchell.
Bill attended South Salt Lake High School, and graduated in 1949.  He was in the ROTC in High School, as a captain squad leader, and received merits for marksmanship with his rifle.  In 1950, Bill joined the U.S. Air Force.  He was a MP and was stationed in Kansas.  He received an honorable discharge in 1953.
On February 3, 1951, he married Norma J. Pyper in Salt Lake City, UT.  They moved to Teton Village, Idaho where he worked on a ranch.  In 1954 they moved back to Logan, UT.  Where Bill attended Utah State College.  He graduated from there in 1956.  In 1956, they moved to Wyoming where Bill worked for the U.S. Forest Service for several months on the Gray’s River.  He fought a major forest fire, which later he found out it damaged his lung.  In 1957, Bill went to work for Mountain Fuel Gas Company, in Logan, UT.; where Bill and Norma had seven children together over the next few years.  They later divorced in 1973.  He transferred to Fort Bridger, WY. in 1974 for Mountain Fuel.  He was known as “Bill the gas man.”  In May 1979 he married Mary Bates and brought with that union, four more children, which made the family of eleven children.  He was “Dad” to all of them.  He retired from Mountain Fuel in 1985.
Bill and Mary lived in Pinehurst, Idaho and Salt Lake City, UT until they moved to Evanston where Mary took up residency at the Rocky Mountain Care Nursing Home.  After Mary’s passing at the home, Bill became ill and was placed in Rocky Mountain Care Nursing Home, where he passed away quietly in his sleep.  Bill was loved and pampered by the whole staff.  Bill loved horses, and was an active hunter, fisherman, and master at horse shoes for many years.  Bill loved his whole family unconditionally, They were his pride and joy.
He is preceded in death by his parents, William & Ella Mitchell, one sister Mary Crosley, two granddaughters, Amanda Fackrell, and Tiffany Mitchell.  He is survived by his children,  Teri Mitchell, of Salt Lake City, UT.; Steve (Thressa) Mitchell, Mountain View, WY.; Mike (Maryann) Mitchell, of Scottsbluff, NE.; Gina (TC) Cuprak, of Maderson, WY.; Tom (Erica) Mitchell, of Midvale, UT.; Dan (Monica) Mitchell, of Provo, UT.; MaryElla (Mike) McEwan, of Elk Ridge, UT.; Mary (Rod)Reinholz, of Mountain View, WY.; Pat (Nancy) Bates, of Pinehurst, ID.; Bill (Nicole) Bates, of Richardson, TX.; and Beth (Kaela) Bates, of Silverton, ID.; Bill (Nicole) Bates, of Richardson, TX.; Beth(Kaela) Bates, of Silverton, ID.; he is also survived by one brother, James Mitchell, of Willard, UT.; and 33 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.
Memorial services will be conducted on Saturday, April 19, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. at Rocky Mountain Care Center, Evanston, WY.; with President Mike Green officiating.
Online condolences may be left at crandallfhevanston.com.