William "Bill" Gould Mill

William Gould Mill passed away in his sleep Saturday morning, August 5, 2023 at home in Cheyenne, Wyoming. "Bill" was 88 years old. He was born March 17, 1935 in Casper, Wyoming to William J. Mill and Dorothy G. Mill of Lusk.

Bill grew up in Lusk and Yoder, Wyoming. His family moved to Torrington during his senior year of high school. He was very active in ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corp) throughout his junior and senior high school years and it was with great pleasure and honor that Bill served in the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, N.C. during the Korean war era. Afterwards, he returned home and married Judith J. Donoho in 1956. They moved to San Diego where Bill worked for Convair as an electrical technician on current and experiment aircraft, a job that he loved, but Wyoming always beckoned. Some family members and a couple of friends joined them in California. After 3 years they returned to Torrington where he excelled at being a DJ and ad salesman for KGOS radio. Bill's on-air wit and personality caught the attention of Wayne G. Vanderpoel, the local State Farm Insurance Agent who believed he had found some untapped talent and, in 1962, Bill started his career as a State Farm Insurance Agent in Loveland, Colorado.

Bill met many people and made many friends along the way as he was active in the Elks Club, Optimist Club and Jr. Achievement. He enjoyed being an EMT and volunteer fireman for the Loveland Fire Department for many years. He continued DJ-ing at KLOV as the "Midnight Cowboy." In 1975, Bill moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming to become a District Manager for State Farm. He hired and enjoyed helping many men and women in southeast Wyoming become successful State Farm Agents.

On December 22, 1984, at Bear Creek Community Church, he married his heart's true love, Catherina "Kim" Patterson, of Cheyenne, Wyoming. They enjoyed over 38 years together, with every moment being more cherished than the last. They retired from State Farm in 1995.

Bill loved to fly and did: from sail planes to helicopters to jet fighters and many, many aircraft in-between, even in a 747 simulator. He held a Commercial pilot's license. He loved to travel on a moment's notice and no road trip was ever too long. He loved to go to coffee with the guys, work on computers, build computers, build anything and take anything apart so he could fix it and put it back together. He loved to help friends in any way he could, help in the kitchen, make his special salad, read and listen to books, acquire new knowledge, spend time with old friends, spend time in the mountains, take every back road, be near the ocean, watch a green flash, watch the stars, satellites and the ISS travel around the earth, dream about space and men who go there and how they got there. He enjoyed playing golf, fishing, floating the North Platte River, camping with his agents every year, listening to country music, bluegrass, symphony orchestra music, live theater and writing poetry. He never tired of watching eagles, hummingbirds, baby birds fledge, airplanes, trains, clouds, thunderstorms roll across the prairie, all species of wildlife, the ever-changing scenery as he drove, wide open spaces and buying new cars. He was an accomplished, published photographer and could play the piano, guitar, banjo and mandolin. Chasing storms and tornadoes was a favorite past time as he and Kim were both trained Weather Spotters for the National Weather Service.

He was extremely funny, generous and patient.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Barbara Christiansen and Patricia Grieve; daughter, Elizabeth Mill; former wife, Judith Shade, and many, many friends.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Kim; daughters, Pamela Mill, and Kimberly Mill; grandchildren, Dr. Zane (Ariel) Maroney, M.D., and Dr.Trisstin Maroney, M.D.; two great grandsons; brother-in-law Rick (Sandy) Patterson, sister-in-law, Donnica Jones, many nieces and nephews, some cousins and and a few dear friends. He felt very good and hopeful about the future he saw in the upcoming generations of the family.

The family wishes to personally thank Dr. Dimiter Orahovats, the telemetry floor nurses and aids and hospitalists at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center for his exceptional care during his long stay earlier this year, the amazing team at Acute Rehab Center, CRMC-East, the unparalleled Home Health Care team from CRMC that helped him excel and thrive again, his special physical therapists at Hands On Physical Therapy-West, his friends who never gave up on him and especially everyone that prayed for us.

Donations in Bill's memory may be made to K-9's for Mobility (11805 Campstool Rd, Cheyenne, WY 82007), Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra (1920 Thomes Ave # 400, Cheyenne, WY 82001), or the Cheyenne Animal Shelter 800 Southwest Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82007).
A Joyous Remembrance will be held on Tuesday, August 29th at 2 p.m. at Wiederspahn's Chapel of the Chimes with reception to follow immediately at the Gathering Place.

For those wishing to attend but not able, the service will be available to watch livestream on Bill’s obit website the day of the service. https://wrcfuneral.com

Interment of Bill's ashes in Beth El Cemetery will be held by the family later at a later date.

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