William Lee Hiett

1922 - 2021

William Lee Hiett

Reno - William, born Billy Lee Hiett, passed away at St. Mary's Hospital on June 3, 2021. He was a remarkable 99 years old.

Bill was born January 5, 1922 in Silverlake, Oregon to Estella Bogue Hiett and Earl Austin Hiett. He spent a few years of his childhood in Silverlake before the family moved to Etna, California, where he attended elementary school in a one room schoolhouse. He completed his elementary education there during the beginning of the Great Depression.

Times were difficult and the family relocated temporarily to Biggs, California, where Bill graduated in 1939 from Biggs High School. During high school, he played basketball and football and ran track. He loved sports and, as an adult, was an avid tennis player, bowler and archery champion, at one point placing second in the Nevada State archery championship. Bill was also a dedicated SF Giants and 49ers fan.

After high school, Billy joined the Army and worked in intelligence stateside from November 1945 to June 1947. After serving his country during World War II, he returned to work in the lumber industry as a lumber grader. Some of the mills in northern California closed and he relocated to Reno with his wife, Adelma, to work for Tahoe Timber. After Tahoe Timber closed in the 1960s, William worked for Union Ice Company, eventually being promoted to plant superintendent.

Bill stayed with Union Ice, and then Glacier Ice, until his retirement. He traveled the U.S. in his motorhome with Adelma and took a trip to Europe. He had a lifelong love of the outdoors and they spent many weekends camping in the Sierras. Bill was also an avid fisherman, eventually learning to tie his own flies.

To his family, William was our strong and steady anchor. He had a quirky sense of humor and an easy-going demeanor, unless board games were involved. If you sat down to the table to play any game with Bill; chess, pinochle, dominoes, whatever: you needed to be prepared to lose. But you didn't mind because he was so pleasant to be around. He will be sorely missed.

Bill is survived by his son Ray Hiett and his wife Nancy, his daughter Roberta Duskin, as well as 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. William also has 3 remaining siblings: Earlene McBroom (sister), Jane Lord (sister) and EJ Hiett (brother).

Interment will take place on June 11, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at Mountain View Mausoleum, with a gathering of family and friends to follow at Roberta's house.