Billy J Lankford

Billy James “Bill” Lankford, 92, of Missoula passed away at home on Thursday June 1st, 2017. Bill was born October 18, 1924 in Lead Hill, Boone Co., Arkansas, son of Wilfred Ernest Lankford and Jewel Anice Hodge. The family lived on a small farm without the benefit of running water, electricity or indoor plumbing until the Great Depression caused the family to leave the farm (after they had eaten the last chicken for supper). They loaded up the family truck with their belongings and set out along with millions of other Americans to be itinerant farmers and share croppers.
Bill lived in Colorado, Arizona, Idaho and California before joining the Navy in 1943, serving during WWII. He served as a Gunners Mate on the USS Campbell, a Destroyer Escort, in the South Pacific theater of war until peace was declared. He was assigned to the ship for its christening in 1943 and worked on decommissioning her in 1945.
Bill returned to family in California and later got a job with Boeing Aircraft in Wichita, KS where he met and married Katherine Jo “Katie” Gaston. A year after marriage, they had a son, Joel. Bill rejoined the Navy – this time as a pilot. Flying for the Navy allowed Bill to see Guam, the coast of mainland China, Pensacola Fla and McGuire A.F.B. NJ, Newfoundland, Greenland and Germany.
In 1959, Bill and Katie bought a ranch in Elk Park, MT and moved there. The ranch didn’t work out so well, so the Lankford family moved to Butte where Bill worked for Montana Job Service. Bill remained a Montana State employee for the rest of his working career.
The Lankford Family moved to Great Falls in 1967. Bill and Katie lived in Great Falls for 31 years until moving to Missoula in 1999.
Bill lived a full, rich life and will be remembered for his calm, gentle demeanor. He is survived by his wife Katie, son Joel Lankford, and grand daughter Amber Bingle.
A Memorial Celebration will be held at Grizzly Peak, 3600 American Way, Missoula, MT on Saturday June 17th at 10:30am.