William E. “Bill” Glaser
William E. “Bill” Glaser, 81, of Huntley, Montana, died March 5, 2021, from Covid complication. The third of O.R. and Phyllis Dorr Glaser’s seven children, Bill spent his first 20 years in southern California, attending school and working in his father’s TV and radio shop. In the early 1960s, Bill moved to Great Falls, Montana, where he worked for Anaconda Copper. Bill returned to California in 1962, got married, had two sons, worked for several big-name communication systems businesses, and got divorced.
At age 29, Bill met the love of his life, Patsy Blake Willis. They married June 8, 1970, in Las Vegas, and Bill and boys moved to Patsy’s family’s ranch on Indian Creek east of Billings. Most partners bring baggage to their marriages—Patsy came with four vociferous teenage children and an outspoken mother.
Bill’s first job in Montana was fixing televisions, but his talents and ambitions being far greater, about 1973 he started Montana-Wyoming Systems, which specialized in school communication systems, nurse call systems, and fire alarm systems. Bill also did the sound for some annual summer fairs and night shows in Billings, Great Falls, Baker, and Forsyth, and he and Pat became quite well acquainted with many famous entertainers, including Charley Pride. Bill also provided sound for the annual Homesteader Days in Huntley.
Although Bill was careful with his money, he gave his “wifey” expensive and sentimental gifts and was a family man who helped his family with loans, vehicles, electrical help, etc.
In 1975, with the advent of grandkids, Bill and Pat’s life picked up a gear! While operating a busy business out of their large ranch home, they also helped raise several grand- and great-grandkids by incorporating them into the everyday chaos. Bill took it all in stride and, in fact, according to Pat, enjoyed it far better than his quiet life in California pre-1970.
About 1975, not only was Bill’s family growing but also his business. To better get around Montana and Wyoming, Bill took flying lessons from Lynch Flying Service and purchased a Cessna 150, later traded in for a Cessna 172. They weren’t used strictly for business, however. For several years, while the grandkids were students of Kristy Bick’s Huntley Project third grade class, Bill dropped carefully packaged raw eggs from his plane onto the football field in a NASA-inspired experiment to see what eggs survived!
Bill had a number of passions—first and foremost was Pat. Another was the grandkids. And yet another was fighting wildfires. What started as three generations of family ill-equipped with buckets of wet jeans and a few shovels slowly evolved into a properly-equipped Haley Bench Volunteer Fire Department where the family comprises the majority of the competent fire fighters. Bill served with dedication as president for several decades.
Bill was involved in all aspects of Pat’s family’s ranch. He wasn’t a cowboy, but especially in the early years, when there was riding to do, Bill got horseback. At the brandings and chute work, Bill could be counted on to lend a hand. As a corporation board member, he was conservative and intelligent.
He brought those traits to politics as well. In November 1984, 1986, and 1988, Bill was successful in his Republican bid to represent House District 98 in Helena. He lost the 1990 election, but returned to the MT Legislature as a State Senator in January of 1997 and 2001. Then, termed out of the Senate, Bill won the fall elections of 2004, 2006, and 2008 as State Representative from District #44. Termed out again, Bill did not seek re-election. Serving 10 sessions in Helena in 14 years—all while running an active business at home—was more than Bill’s share of civic duty!
In 1998, after 25 years in business, Bill and Pat sold Montana-Wyoming Systems. Never one to be idle, Bill started East Slope, an internet business, and for about 10 years, installed and maintained internet connections in southeastern Montana.
Bill and Pat were set to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a big party in June 2020, but Covid prevented that. Later in the summer, Bill suffered several small strokes, which resulted in the onset of serious dementia. That was a situation from which there would be no cure, so it was a true blessing when, on the evening of March 5, 2021, Bill quietly departed this life at age 81.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, O.R. and Phyllis Glaser; older brother, Oscar Robert Jr. “Bobby” Glaser; and younger sister Bonnie Glaser Hentz.
Bill is survived by his wife Patsy; sons Mark (Grace) and Mike (Susannah) Glaser; stepchildren Linda Grosskopf, Gwyn Taft, Mike (Debbie) Hammond, and Nancy (Scott) Morrison; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; sisters Betty Orendorff, Beverly Thompson, and Barbara (O.D.) Wilson; brother Don (Sandy) Glaser; and numerous nieces and nephews.
No public funeral. Memorial donations may be made to Haley Bench Volunteer Fire Department, c/o Mike Hammond, 852 Indian Creek Road, Huntley, MT 59037.
