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William C. 'Bill' Tarrant Butte, MT QCWA # 12846 Chapter 104 |
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William C. 'Bill' Tarrant, 72, died after a brief illness on Monday, June 1, 2009, in Las Vegas.
Bill was born May 5, 1936, in Great Falls, to Roy and Ruth (Charles) Tarrant. His family moved to Butte in 1951. Bill attended Butte High School. He then attended Western Montana College, earning a degree in secondary education. Bill worked as a high school English teacher in Hardin. He attained his master.s degree in psychology at the University of Montana. Bill was also a handful of credits shy of earning his doctorate degree.
Then, he moved onto Columbia Falls where he was a high school counselor. His next position was as staff psychologist at the Wyoming Girls. School in Sheridan.
The majority of Bill's career, however, was spent working as the psychologist for the Butte school district. He began work there in 1967 and reluctantly opted for early retirement in 1987.
After retirement from the school district, Bill embarked on a new career as a pastor. Bill attended Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University in Chicago and Claremont School of Theology at Claremont College in California. He was the assistant pastor at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Butte, and the interim pastor for the Church of the Big Hole, which served Melrose, Wise River and Wisdom.
In his capacity as a minister, Bill was able to officiate his daughter.s wedding, as well as baptize his niece and all three of his grandsons.
Bill was a member of the Butte Amateur Radio Club. 'Ham' radio was a true passion of his. He had his own .radio shack. set up in his home, complete with a 40-foot radio tower in the backyard. He was able to contact other hams all over the world. He served as president of the Butte Radio Club for many terms. 'W7ROE' had many longtime and wonderful friends that he had met through ham radio.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Jane Tarrant Grimm; brother-in-law, Al Grimm; aunts, Florence Charles and Marie Charles; and aunt and uncle, Clarence and Carrie Charles.
He is survived by his longtime companion, Judy Cosgrove of Las Vegas; daughter and son-in-law, Carrie and Mike Shinkle and grandsons, Jake, Ryder, and Grey Shinkle, all of Prineville, Ore.; and his niece, Jennifer Grimm of Las Vegas.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held in Butte at a later date.
Memorials: Butte Amateur Radio Club, Box 4036, Butte, 59701