William “Willie” “Stubbie” Crowe, 38, died unexpectedly on Saturday, May 29, 2021, at his home in Bainville.
He was born on Oct 12, 1982, in Santa Cruz, Calif., and was adopted at one-day old by Fred and Sally Crowe. He spent his childhood in Bend, Ore., where he was a fun-loving and mischievous child who played soccer, swam on the local swim team and was active in 4-H.
After high school, he volunteered in the Navy as a fire control technician maintaining the Close-In-Weapons-System on the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier and then did a tour of duty in Iraq maintaining a Navy missile defense system.
Upon leaving the Navy, he was a building contractor in and around Lewiston, Idaho, and worked as a welder of windmill systems in Dayton, Wash., before moving to Williston, N.D., in 2008 to begin a career in the dynamic oil services industry.
Following up on his love of the outdoors and working with his hands, he found his true calling as a cowboy in northern Montana. He became the right-hand man for Dave Granley on his cattle ranch and grain farm, where he fully enjoyed his life until his death.
His needs were simple — he loved his friends, his dog Heidi, his truck and helping others. He was a brilliant thinker with a love of reading. He had an honest personality that was huge.
He is survived by his parents, Sally Crowe of Bend, Ore., and Fred Crowe of Dayton, Wash., and his sister, Cameron of New York City.
He was preceded in death by his younger sister and best friend in life, Katherine. He was known for having a big heart and caring nature which he acquired by helping Katherine, who was quadriplegic but very social. He is also survived by his family in Idaho: Lonna and Ron Bishop and their children; Katherine, RJ, Gene and Jacob.
A memorial service was held in Montana at the Bainville Firehall on Saturday, June 5. Another service will be held near Lewiston, Idaho, at a later date.
