William Wayne Dafoe

William Wayne Dafoe, Affectionately known as Bill, 46, of Chester, died Wednesday September 11, 2024 peacefully at the family ranch after a battle with brain cancer. 

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, September 18, at the Whitlash Community Presbyterian Church. A graveside service will follow at the Whitlash Cemetery. 

Bill, the son of Bob and Toni Dafoe, was born January 10, 1978, in Chester, Montana. He was a 1996 graduate of Chester High School. In 2002 he was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree from Montana Tech where he majored in Metallurgical Engineering. In 2007, he received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Nevada Reno. Bill used his education to work throughout six states processing food and minerals as diverse as gold, sugar, and uranium. Most recently as field operations supervisor.

Bill was the father of three children: Logan (17), Ava (15), and Bo (12). Bill met Sabrina shortly before he was diagnosed with cancer. Their love affair was cut short due to his passing. 

Bill grew up in the Sweetgrass Hills and was an extremely active 4-H member for 12 years. In his youth he loved hunting, fishing, hiking, and anything that took him outdoors. He continued his love for 4-H and volunteering by being a 4-H leader for shooting sports, swine, and beef while he lived in Thermopolis. 

Bill also enjoyed playing sports, especially football. He played football through his junior high, high school, and college careers. Bill passed his love of sports and being outdoors to his three children. An active part of every community in which he lived, Bill has coached football, wrestling, basketball, and baseball. His favorite was football. He started coaching when Logan was in flag football and coached Bo’s football team until his illness. As Bill says, “fresh air is therapeutic.”

Many of his teammates and coaches turned into lifelong friends. Bill tried to embody Coach Green’s philosophy, “Every man every time all day!” and passed it on to as many youth in as many states in all the teams and in all the sports he coached. 

Bill collected friends everywhere he went, worked, and lived. Throughout his cancer journey, many have reached out and let him know the impact he had on their lives. Several times in the past year he has been told “you are my best friend.”

Bill is survived by his children Logan, Ava, and Bo of Thermopolis, Wyoming. Parents, Bob and Toni Dafoe of Chester; Sister, Julia Dafoe of Chester;  sister, Marjorie Dafoe of Billings; grandmother, Jeanette Brown of Shelby; significant other, Sabrina Gines of Powell, Wyoming; as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, Bill requested that donations of blood be made wherever you can. Bill was a universal donor and often donated red blood cells in addition to the pint of blood.