William "Bill" Newbry

1952 - 2025

William Eugene Newbry, 73, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2025, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Bill departed this world early in the morning with his daughter, Meagan, by his side.

Bill was born on January 17, 1952, in Twin Falls, Idaho, to Charles William Newbry and Betty Jean Fusselman Newbry. His life brought him a rich variety of experiences and led him down many unexpected roads. With the country at war and drawing the number six in the draft lottery, Bill left college and joined the Army. Bill was introduced to the world of aviation and became an air traffic controller. Later, a nationwide labor dispute would send him back to college and into the agriculture business. Bill was known for being a well-respected leader, mentor, and visionary. He realized the value of family in relationships, in and out of the workplace. Bill's greatest quality was his generosity, quick to help and asking for nothing in return.

Bill grew up in Twin Falls, the third of four children. Stories that you may have heard about his childhood mischief are likely true, but most were Bill's ideas or encouraged by their sister, Christine, according to his sidekick and younger brother, Chuck. In fact, their Grandpa Newbry, who lived nearby, called Billy and Chucky "The Katzenjammer Kids." This was in reference to the long-running comic strip about the continuous adventures of two mischievous boys, Hans and Fritz. Fortunately, Bill and Chuck learned from their escapades and many mistakes while having fun with go-karts, motorbikes, cars, fireworks, explosives, and anything else that could make a loud noise or go fast.

Bill worked in the family's agricultural service business in his youth until he graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1970. He attended Boise State University for two years and then joined the army. By joining, he was able to direct his military training toward air traffic controller school. He was eventually stationed at Fort Rucker, AL and Fort Bragg, NC. This experience started his great love of all things having to do with airplanes. Bill loved sitting on the patio or deck and using apps on his phone to identify data and routes of passing aircraft.

After completing his service requirement, Bill moved to Idaho Falls and continued his air traffic controlling career. A few years later, Bill decided to take his skillset to Spokane International Airport. After completing 24-hour work shifts, Bill relaxed by skiing as much as possible. On one of those ski trips, he met the love of his life, Jane Hansel. Bill and Jane were married on November 4, 1978, in Spokane. Two years later, they welcomed their daughter, Meagan. The family moved to Genesee, Idaho in 1984. Jane passed away in June 1997 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Bill was motivated to go back to college after the nationwide air traffic controllers' strike in 1981. While trading wheat for a brokerage firm in Spokane, he earned a business and marketing degree from Eastern Washington University. In 1984, Bill joined Genesee Union Warehouse in Genesee, ID. This new job, which started as operations manager, led to a 36 year career with GUW and Pacific Northwest Farmers Co-op. Bill became President and CEO of GUW in 1996 and managed that co-op through mergers with Johnson Union Warehouse in 2003, Whitman County Growers in 2008 and renamed Pacific Northwest Farmers Co-op, and finally with CoAg Producers in 2018, before he retired in May 2020.

Under Bill's leadership, the company grew in employees, sales, and facilities. Bill started with 15 employees and annual sales of $7 million, a single seed plant, a bulk commodity warehouse storage facility in Genesee and joint ownership of one river terminal. Bill guided the need to expand and diversify the crop opportunities for the farmer owners. Upon his retirement, PNW Farmers Co-op had 130 employees, annual sales of around $275 million, multiple seed and specialty crop processing plants, several river and rail shipment facilities, including a 110-car unit train shipment facility in McCoy, WA. The company took advantage of a very loyal grower base in Genesee, the addition of growers from mergers, and the investment support from the board of directors to add value and diversify the crop selection options for the members. This led PNW to become a major economic player in the northwest inland crop region.

Bill built a reputation for the Clipper brand, which he named, that became a standard for quality domestically and in over 40 countries in export sales. As the human food processing part of the business grew, Bill recognized a need for food safety certification standards for milling operations. He worked with the University of Idaho food processing extension specialist to develop standards that became common in the industry. This helped maintain and expand sales of the company's products, including becoming a major supplier of garbanzos for Sabra Foods hummus. Looking to improve food safety and quality consistency, PNW was one of the early investors in electronic eye technology that dramatically improved product consistency.

Bill led PNW to be one of the early processors of garbanzo beans in the region. He was responsible for utilizing the USDA Ag Research Service pulse breeding program to select for seed increase of a pedrosillanos garbanzo variety. This variety had very good disease resistance and proved to be very adaptive to the expanding hummus market. Bill's good friend, farmer Jim Hermann, called the variety the "Billy Bean", a name which stuck and became the predominant variety used in the domestic hummus market. Bill became a master at adding value to the crops grown by the farmer owners before they were shipped for export or domestic sales.

Bill's influence on the educational and civic activities in the towns of the PNWFC membership was significant. He helped the University of Idaho and Washington State University recruit ag students, along with providing internship and employment opportunities. Bill had many professional and community affiliations in the pulse industry, foundation seed association, Genesee School Board (chairman), and advisory committee for Gritman Hospital. He was instrumental in the donation of PNW real estate in Genesee for the new recreation district athletic complex, fire station, and fire hall. In 2017, Bill received an Honorary Doctorate of Agricultural Science from the University of Idaho, and he was also inducted into the Idaho Cooperative Hall of Fame. In 2022, Bill received the U.S. Pea & Lentil Trade Association Honorary Life Membership Award, recognizing his lasting impact on the pulse industry, and his dedication to growers and colleagues.

Bill will be remembered for his generosity and love for family and community. He was a devoted husband and father, a loyal friend, and a mentor to many. His presence will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. The family would like to express their profound gratitude to the incredible support system and compassionate care team at Kootenai Health and Schneidmiller Hospice House in Coeur d'Alene.

Bill is survived by his wife, Susan; daughter, Meagan (Randy); brother, Chuck (Janelle); sister, Christine (Elmer) Parker; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and dear friends; and his beloved dog, Darbi. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Betty; brother, Larry; and wife, Jane.

An open house gathering to honor and celebrate Bill will be held at Birch and Barley, 1360 Bishop Blvd., Pullman, Washington on Saturday, October 18, 2025, 12:00 - 3:00. At Bill's request, no black attire, please come dressed colorfully, casual, and comfortable. Family and friends are welcome to join in remembering and celebrating Bill's remarkable life by posting on his memorial website at Yates Funeral Homes: www.yatesfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you consider a donation to the University of Idaho: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences or Genesee Education Association.