William E. Henk, Sr., ‘Husky Bill’

Darby – William E. Henk, Sr., (Husky Bill) went to heaven April 9, 2026, after fighting Parkinson’s Disease for four years.

He was born in Des Plaines, IL September 10, 1947, to Irene and William F. Henk. Bill was a hard worker. During high school he had several jobs that helped with his family’s finances.  

He was drafted into the Army during the Viet Nam era and served on the DMZ in Korea for 13 months. He married his high school sweetheart Doris Taylor March 12, 1967, while on leave.  After coming back to the States, they lived in Waco, TX for four months to complete his army service. Being honorably discharged, they moved to Streamwood, IL and bought their first home where they welcomed their first daughter which started their family. 

As a man of many talents, he had a variety of jobs. He was a parts man for an IH dealer, a plastic extruder operator and a real estate salesman. He owned a tavern in Streamwood, IL, but the pressure caused him to be hospitalized. Doctor said he had to drastically change his lifestyle, or he would only live 5 years. While visiting his brother-in-law Leo Taylor, he discovered the Bitterroot Valley and moved here in 1977. He purchased the Husky Gas Station (known as Mr. Ts) downtown Darby where he got the nickname “Husky Bill”. Outgoing as a social butterfly, everyone knew him. He also owned and operated Husky Bill’s Parts House south of Darby for four years before having his first heart attack at 41. He sold everything from auto and truck parts to heavy equipment and engines. His business prospered when logging was booming in the Bitterroot. After this, he ran Grandma’s Towing for 10 years while having the Ravalli County Junk Vehicle Hauling Program for two years. He served the community as a volunteer Firefighter for more than 20 years as well as being an active member of Ravalli County Search and Rescue. 

He had many endeavors which kept his wife wondering “What now?” He worked at People’s Market and Pine Door Company for several years before having another heart attack and open-heart surgery in 1999. This ended his work career. He continued hunting big game to keep meat in the freezer and passed his love of hunting onto his son. He enjoyed the outdoors and panning for gold throughout the years.   

Bill was an avid golfer playing at the Hamilton Golf Course as often as possible. His goal after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s was to play golf again and he was going to be the first to beat this disease. He also enjoyed meeting with his friends to play poker. 

Always interesting, not shy and happy with life, he loved talking and sharing stories with anyone he saw. He could meet someone in an elevator and would know them in the first minute. He will be missed by his wife and four children he was so proud of. 

Survivors include Rebecca (Henk) Conroy (Jake), Robin Evers (Joseph Evers), William E. Henk, Jr. and Dana Strom (Timothy). He loved his two grandchildren Stephen Abrahamsen and Aspyn Henk. He’s preceded in death by his mother and father, younger brother Jimmy Henk, an infant brother, and his sister Shirley Howery.
The Bitterroot Valley will be missing a real character and great guy.A Celebration of Life will be held at the Daly-Leach Chapel on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. with a reception following in the funeral home’s community room. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.