“What is, is and what aint, aint.”
Eugene William “Bill” Schlotterbeck, 83, of Hamilton, MT and McCall, ID, passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on July 5th, 2023 of natural causes.
Bill was born in Berkeley, CA on August 11th, 1939 to parents who immigrated from Germany and Wales. In his youth he enjoyed being a member of the high school swim team, playing trumpet in the band, and being with his friends while they all worked on their cars. Bill graduated from Pleasant Hill High School in 1957 before attending college. He then went to work for Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) as a lineman, which later allowed him to put his trade skills to work when he served in the US Navy as a SeaBee. After the Navy, Bill went to work for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph (PT&T) in Placerville, CA as an installer/repairman and eventually became a training manager. It was on a routine service call for PT&T where he met his future wife, Sondra “Sandy” Peterson. Sandy and Bill were married on July 22nd, 1967. Bill passed away just shy of their 56th wedding anniversary. While in Placerville, CA, Bill belonged to the American Legion which allowed him and Sandy to volunteer at the Jeepers Jamboree on the cook crew for many years.
In 1980, Bill retired from the utility industry and along with Sandy, moved the family to Hamilton, MT. Their greatest joy and proudest moments were raising their son and daughter in Western Montana.
After trying his hand at ranching, he liked to say he learned a lot…most of which was that he wasn’t a rancher! Never afraid to try something new, Bill and Sandy became owners of Adventures with Sapphire Travel and served the Bitterroot Valley’s travel needs from 1982 to 1987. After which, Bill enjoyed full retirement and living the Montana lifestyle while tirelessly supporting his two children through high school, college, and adulthood. Bill enjoyed hunting (especially his time in hunting camp), fishing, camping with family, and later in life, attending the University of Montana football games which brought him equal parts joy and stress. Through thick and thin times, one thing remained constant, Bill never stopped loving and supporting his family and friends. And he never lost his great sense of humor, filling life’s moments with unforgettable one liners.
Bill is survived by wife Sondra “Sandy” Schlotterbeck, son Peter “Pete” Schlotterbeck (Mesa, AZ), daughter Heidi (Schlotterbeck) Galyardt, son-in-law Matthew Galyardt, grandsons Gavin and Chase Galyardt (McCall, ID), as well as long standing friends. He is preceded in death by his parents Eugene Fredrick and Ivy Henrietta (Chilton) Schlotterbeck, brother Orville Ballard, and many friends who passed before.
The family would like to thank the entire staff at St. Luke’s McCall Hospital and St. Luke’s McCall Hospice for their kindness, concern, and guidance throughout Bill’s final journey.
A celebration of life will be held this coming Fall where we will smile and laugh for having known Bill/Dad/Papa.
Online condolences may be left at www.mccallfunerals.com
Arrangements in care of McCall Funeral Home.