William Jones

1932 - 2025

William Jones

August 1, 1932 - November 9, 2025

"Ich Dien" - "I Serve" is a motto long associated with Wales and its rulers. It's the best summary for the life of William Evan Jones, a proud Welsh descendant whose life touched so many for the better far beyond his native Pine Hills of Eastern Montana.

Bill died on Sunday, Nov. 9, after months of declining health.

Bill came into this world on Aug. 1, 1932, at Fergus Falls, Minnesota, while his mother Esther stayed with her parents. But at two months old he returned to Miles City, where he, father John Richard, brother Robert and Esther raised Herefords at Sleepy Hollow Ranch along Mizpah Creek. While working to produce beef for the war effort, Bill one day set fire to a haystack while learning (briefly) about cigarettes - he avoided recriminations by shouting, "Hitler is coming!"

Relocating to town during the winters, Bill attended Custer County High, where he reported for the school newspaper and provided the baritone for "The Mikado."

Bill ventured out into the world in 1950 when he took the train alone to Missoula to begin at the University of Montana. De-boarding downtown, he began walking down Gerald Avenuewith his suitcase toward campus, along the way meeting student Dan Lambros, who asked "Would you like to join our fraternity?" "What's a fraternity?" Bill replied, and so began a lifelong friendship and association with Sigma Nu.

At UM Bill rose to edit the Kaimin student newspaper, urging support for the soldiers fighting in Korea and taking swipes at Joe McCarthy. While earning a B.A. in Journalism he played varsity tennis and "aimed high" in Air Force R.O.T.C.,collecting his 2nd Lieutenant's commission, Bill followed the colors, all the way to Malmstrom AFB and the 29th Air Division, where he edited the base newspaper.

Cold War duty done, Bill experienced the vibrancy of 1950s New York City while interning at Newsweek magazine. While staying at Columbia University, where his grandson would matriculate seven decades later, a law student told him he had "an organized mind" which would serve a legal career well. Advice well taken, he headed back to UM Law, graduating with a class of 16 in 1959. He took another long journey, this time across the Clark Fork downtown, where he joined Garlington, Lohn and Robinson, his professional home for more than 52 years until retirement.

Bill excelled in the arts of litigation, specializing in the representation of defendants in civil liability cases. He spent countless evenings and weekends in trial preparation, noting over the years, "If you've got the facts you're probably going to win," and, "Short closing arguments appeal to tired jurors." His record spoke for itself in his elevation to the American College of Trial Lawyers. Paralleling his private career, his public service to Missoula through not only service organizations but also 40 straight years of serving on the City of Missoula Board of Adjustments reveal his loyalty as well as his work ethic.

Bill married Jean Jones of Whitefish in 1961; they resided on Madeline Ave. The union saw the arrival of three children before ending in divorce in 1980. When his law partner John Acher passed early, he was proud to carry out his bequest as a mentor to his children. In 1989, he married Karen Kempel of Missoula, enjoying many years with her in their Farviews home before she died in 2008. His longtime companion Twila Wolf brought great happiness to his later years.

Bill was thankful to Missoula for all it had given him. He told a national magazine, "In terms of quality of life, Montana has Manhattan and Washington beat all to heck," and he constantly sought to give back to his home. A Chamber of Commerce Ambassador and President of Missoula Rotary, among many other endeavors he also spearheaded the building of a new Sigma Nu house and assisted the UM Excellence Fund. He was especially proud of being able to establish the Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History at Fort Missoula.

Bill and his friends combined a strong work ethic with the ability to appreciate the post-Depression abundance of leisure activities. He enjoyed many summers at a Whitefish Lake summer cabin, where he risked life and limb to attach Welsh castle name signs to the tallest trees. Taking his children and their friends on cross-country business trips to show them the world beyond Missoula proved a 1970s and 80s avocation. Vintage cars were a passion, and his replica 1932 Mercedes Benz and 1948 Jeepster graced many Homecoming parades. Western art, clothes, and music remained part of his repertoire long past the Pine Hills, culminating in biennial trips he hosted for friends to the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale. Mainstays of his life were his friends in Rotary, the First Presbyterian Church, Poker Club, Ruffato Club, and his cherished Coffee Club. His mother's divinity bequeathed him a lifelong sweet tooth, and he took full advantage of Missoula's confectioneries.

Bill 's parents, brother and second wife preceded him in death. Bill's spirit lives on in his children, Tate Jones, Gwen Jones (Andrew Koenig) and their children Chase, Kate and Rex Koenig; Reid Jones (Crystal Jones) and their children Shayla and Liam Jones; his nephew Bruce Jones (Lisa Allison) and Anna Marie Jones (Mike Caudill).

His family thanks his support system in his final months, including his friends, club colleagues, caregivers, hospice and his canine companions Fluffy and Sgt. Bozo.

Ich Dien, Bill.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, Dec. 1, at 10 a.m.at the 1st Presbyterian Church at 235 South 5th St. W., Missoula.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Bill's memory to the John P. Acher Memorial Scholarship at the UM School of Law (checks payable to the UM Foundation with a note directing the contribution to the John P. Acher Scholarship Endowment 697), P.O. Box 7159, Missoula MT 59807,or to the Rocky Mountain Military History Museum, P.O. Box 7263, Missoula, MT 59807.