The family of Bill Bartholomew extends an invitation to join them in a celebration of his life. On Friday, October 14, 2011, they will be serving a supper and sharing memorial at the Dakota Lodge Motel meeting room from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. On Saturday, October 15, 2011 there will be a memorial service and Bill stories sharing time at 2 p.m. at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon. Later that evening, the family will be presenting a shotgun in memory of Bill at the Pheasants Forever Banquet at the Beeler Community Center in Lemmon.

George William (Bill) Bartholomew passed away at his Lemmon home in the early evening of Good Friday, April 22. Bill went the distance in a battle that started with heart disease in 2008 and cancer in 2010. He fought the battle quietly and courageously and his final days were spent with family and friends at his side in his Lemmon home.



Bill was born to George and Bessie Bartholomew in Philip, SD on July 28, 1944. His family moved to Lemmon in 1946, and Bill attended St. Mary's Elementary School and Lemmon High School. Though small in stature, Bill was an outstanding, tenacious athlete and played basketball and baseball as a student athlete for the Black Hills State Yellow Jackets for two years. He then transferred to Forest Lawn Mortuary School to pursue a degree in mortuary science. Upon completion of these studies he helped Bud Hall Funeral Homes in Philip and Pierre, then moved to Alaska to start his professional career. He later joined the Anchorage City Fire Department, making a career of this profession while also doing some mortician work, retiring with the rank of Captain. A book needs to be written of the stories that emanated from that fire hall!



The outdoor recreation possibilities were instrumental in drawing Bill to Alaska, and he made the most of using his spare time to hunt and fish, as well as guiding for others. His summer salmon camp on the Kenai was a gathering spot for many friends and relatives from the lower forty eight, and produced as many great stories as it did big fish. Hunting expeditions also produced stories wilder than the game.



Bill was also very active in the summer collegiate baseball programs in Alaska, and was past president of the Mat-Su Miners Baseball Club. Where else can you play ball in the daylight for 20 hours a day?



Bill married Liz Bell in 1970, and together they raised her 2 children, Donna and Wayne. They also adopted a little boy, Brandon. They remained active in the lives of the 11 grandchildren. Liz died unexpectedly in 2008 while attending to Bill during his recovery from heart surgery.



Bill retired from the fire department in 1993 and began splitting his time between Alaska and South Dakota, following the hunting seasons. He would provide vacation relief for several funeral directors in north central SD. When cold weather hit, he and Liz would go to her home state of Mississippi for the winter. With golf becoming a major pastime, the green grass of the Ole' Miss fairways was welcome, indeed. After Liz's passing Bill became close to her widowed sister Lois, and she and Bill gradually became a couple. Lois was instrumental in getting Bill through his heart rehab and cancer treatments. But she lovingly and sadly encouraged his return to Lemmon where he chose to spend his few final days in his home with his "northern" family and friends.



Bill is survived by Lois, and by his 3 adult children and 11 grandchildren. He is also survived by ten brothers and sisters: Marie (Bob) Wolbach of CA; Tom (Linda) of Faulkton, Jean (Larry) Fritz of Lemmon, Ralph (Fern) of WY; Charles (Leslie) of CA; Ken (Twyla) of Ft. Pierre, Susan (Alvin) Schopp of ND, Don of AZ; David of Faulkton, and Teresa Bohn, of Aberdeen. Bill also has 35 nephews and nieces from this large family. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Liz, twin brothers Gary and Larry who died shortly after birth in 1942, and his parents. Bill is also survived by his brotherhood of firefighters from Anchorage. And we all shall remember his close attachment to his hunting dog and constant sidekick, Dixie.



Stories of Bill and his travels and hunts will become both fire hall and family lore. And they should. Guys like this are becoming a rarity in these fast changing, "modern" times. He will be missed.


A memorial service for Bill will be held at 2:00pm MT, Saturday, October 15, 2011 at the Prince of Peace Chapel of the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.