William Keith “Bill” Smith, 71, passed away in Post Falls, Idaho on Monday, December 1, 2014. A longtime resident of Tri-Cities, Bill had moved to Oroville, Washington in 2012. 

Bill was the oldest child of William Ricketts “Bill” Smith and Gertrude Helen “Trudy” Keithler. He was born on February 4, 1943 in Vancouver, Washington. He was raised in Montana and Wyoming, graduating from Powell High School in Powell, Wyoming, in 1961. During the Vietnam War, Bill served in the Air Force as a medic. His family moved to Walla Walla, Washington, where he met and married Kathy Miriam Dysart on May 28, 1969.  Bill and Kathy are the parents of six children.

Bill was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1972 and was a member of the Teamsters Union. In 2010, Bill retired from Burlington-Northern Railroad, a career he loved. Bill enjoyed traveling, owning restored cars, working with wood and building furniture. He loved visiting national parks such as Yellowstone and Glacier. He had a great sense of humor and always had a joke ready, and loved playing Mad Libs with his children and working crossword puzzles. He loved living in his Oroville home, away from the “big city” and close to nature.

Bill is survived by his children: Natalie (Brian) Holt of Vancouver, Washington; B.C. (Tawnee) Smith of Benton City, Washington; Ernest Smith of Portland, Oregon; Jeremy Smith of Missoula, Montana; Melanie (Bill) Gazdag of Missoula; ten grandchildren, Brennan, Isabella, Kiley, Zane, Harrison, Demeter, Carter, Rosalind, Dionysus and Apollo; girlfriend, Cheri Markel of Richland; his mother Trudy Smith of Caldwell, Idaho; brother J.R. (Karen) Smith of Caldwell; aunt Ramona Smith of Lodge Grass, Montana; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Bill was predeceased by his infant son, John Jason Smith, and his father, William Ricketts Smith.

Services will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, December 13, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 515 S. Union St. in Kennewick. Viewing will take place from 2-2:45 pm. Burial will be on Monday, December 15 in Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.