Bill S. Stracener

Bill Stracener was born July 2, 1927, in Childress, Texas, to William D. Stracener and Letha (Lansdale) Stracener. He passed away March 18, 2020, in Helena, Montana.
Bill grew up in and around Gilmer and Bettie, Texas. Bill spent two years in the U.S. Navy, during which he traveled to the South Pole. After his discharge from the Navy, he married Theresa (Terry) Collins in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 8, 1947. They returned to Texas where Bill worked as a cabinet maker for a few years. He worked in the oil fields in Texas, Oklahoma and Utah before following the oil north to Montana, the Dakotas and Wyoming in the early 1950s. He settled in Wolf Point, Montana in 1963 and bought the Conoco station in 1970. He raised his family in Wolf Point and retired in 1995.
After Terry’s passing in 1995, Bill traveled between Montana and Texas, finally relocating to Big Sandy, Texas. He married Nellie Hughleen Mayfield on October 20, 1997. Hughleen passed away in 2001.
Bill spent time gardening, canning and playing music. Together, he and companion Gwen Tuel attended church at the Little Mound Baptist Church. Bill and his brother Al Frank were members of a band that played for Tuesday night dances at the East Texas Yamboree Building.
Gwen passed away in March 2019. Bill suffered a heart attack in May 2019. After rehabilitation in Gilmer, Texas, he relocated to Helena, Montana, where he resided at Touchmark until his death.
Bill enjoyed visiting family, friends and relatives, gardening, fishing, playing guitar, metal detecting and playing dominos and cards. He will be remembered for many things including his generosity of time, sharing his baked goods and the fruits of his garden, his ability to meet a stranger and leave as friends, his signature bib overalls and his wonderful musical abilities.
Bill has 77 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Terry Stracener; sisters Elaine Huskey, Bonita Lay and Gloria Holmes; son John Stracener; wife Hughleen Stracener; granddaughters Sayra Mahto and Emily Irwin; great-grandsons Logan Stracener, Ty Bruner and Brayden Stracener; and companion Gwen Tuel. He is survived by his daughters Joan (Ron) Scott, Tammy (Orlan) Olson, Kristi (Larry) Irwin and Kim (Larry) Kurokawa; sons Bob (Cheryl) Stracener, Tom Stracener and Ron (Diane) Stracener; brother Al Frank Stracener and sister Ann Grasso.
Bill’s family will be forever grateful for the care and kindness of extended family in the Gilmer area, Bill’s Texas neighbors, the Little Mound Baptist Church family, the staff at the Gilmer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, the staff at Touchmark in Helena, his musician families, and his friends he considered family.
Services will be held at a later date with burial to take place in Wolf Point, Montana.
Memorials can be made to the Gilmer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 703 Titus St., Gilmer, TX, 75644, or to the Little Mound Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1387, Gilmer, TX, 75644.