Wilmer "Bill" Bewley

Wilmer “Bill” Bewley passed away peacefully in Missoula Montana at St. Patrick Hospital on September 21, 2021 of natural causes.

Bill was born to Wilmer “Jack” and Frances Bewley on December 10, 1940 in Vilas, Colorado.

In his early years, Bill grew up as the son of a rancher and learned everything about ranching and being a cowboy; he participated in rodeos around the area riding bareback horses. He graduated from McClave High School in Colorado with the class of 1958. He was a three-sport athlete lettering in football, basketball, and baseball.

Bill met the love of his life, Sharon Ringer, from Las Animas Colorado. They were married on August 28, 1959 and spent the next 55 years together until her passing in 2014.

In Bill’s early twenties he became a Deputy Sherriff for the Bent County Sheriff’s Department in Las Animas, Colorado. After doing this for a few years he became a correctional officer for the State of Colorado making the rank of Sergeant.

In 1971, Bill decided to move his family to Phoenix, Arizona where he would learn the roofing trade. He became a very accomplished roofer and roofing estimator. Bill worked for a number of companies in the Phoenix area, eventually got his contractor’s license and ran his own roofing business for a number of years. Bill moved to Missoula Montana in the early 90’s to be closer to his children and grandchildren and continued in the roofing trade until his retirement.

Bill was an avid sports fan and loved watching his two boys play in the Phoenix area as they grew up. He also loved watching his grandchildren play ball in Montana. Bill coached little league baseball in the Phoenix area, coached his two sons, and also helped coach his grandsons in little league baseball in Missoula.

One of Bill’s passions was painting. He was very talented and would paint beautiful pictures. Some he would sell, but most he gave away to his family and friends.

Bill is going to be greatly missed by all of his family and friends. As one of the nurses at the hospital described him, “He is just one of the kindest and sweetest people I have ever met.”

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Frances Bewley, his brothers, Herb and Oren Bewley, his wife, Sharon Bewley, his son, Robert Bewley and his granddaughter, Brittany Bewley.

Bill is survived by his son, Marty (Bobbi) Bewley of Missoula, Montana. Grandchildren, Ryan (Kendall) Keltz of Sheridan, Montana; Taylor (LaDonna) Bewley of Deer Lodge, Montana; Andrew Bewley of Missoula, Montana; Lucas (Ashlin) Bewley of Missoula, Montana; and Tyler (Eileen) Bewley of Kingsland, Georgia. Sister, Lavora Sala of Arizona; Turk (Lee) Bewley of New Mexico; and Pete (Brenda) Bewley of Missouri. Sister-in-law Linda (Ronnie) Hoffman of Las Animas, Colorado. Great-Grandchildren include Tenley, Teegan and Berklee Keltz; Josiah, Natalie, Mason, and Greyson Bewley and Karson Jay – as well as many special nieces and nephews.

There will be a graveside service in the spring of 2022 in Las Animas, Colorado. Date to be determined.