Obituary: William Rhea “Bill” Alley
Author: Family of William Rhea “Bill” Alley
April 11, 1944 – March 17, 2026
William Rhea (Bill) Alley passed away at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Helena, MT, with his family by his side after a brief illness. He was 81 years old.
Bill was born on April 11, 1944, in Butte, MT, to Alice Rhea (Matson) and Harry Charles Alley. He was the second of their four sons, joining his older brother Harry Jr and later welcoming younger brothers Roy and Andy.
Bill’s early years were spent on the family ranch west of Whitehall, MT, where he learned to care for cattle, sheep, and the land. By nature, he was gentle and kind, with a strong work ethic he carried throughout his life, and a well-developed sense of humor. He found joy among the animals, especially the dogs and cats he loved so much. It was here that his lifelong love of animals took root.
He attended high school in Whitehall, where he played tuba in the band and football. In later years, an injury to his right knee, sustained in his junior year, would still trouble him. Still, he always enjoyed telling the story of how it happened. He would begin by saying he was the starting center, when during practice, another player fell on him. With a big game the next day, the coach asked if he could play, and his answer was always some version of “yes, I can, put me in, coach!” He played his heart out on that injured knee.
In the Fall of 1963, Bill met his future wife, Evelyn Boyd, in the Montana State University marching band, where he played the tuba and she played the baritone horn. They were married on September 11, 1965, and shared more than 60 years side by side. They had a grand life together.
After graduating from MSU in 1967, Bill taught for one year in Clyde Park, MT. As the Vietnam War intensified, he joined the United States Air Force, and after Basic training, completed Officer Training School. While stationed overseas in Thailand, his oldest daughter, Kimberly Anne, was born. He loved to tell the story that as a Communications Officer, he learned of her birth even before receiving the official announcement from the Red Cross. Bill was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain in 1973.
He and his young family returned to Montana, where he taught for one year in Havre. In 1974, the family moved to Townsend, MT, where they made their home. After settling in Townsend, Bill and Ev welcomed their son William Rhea Jr and daughter Karen Marie. During many summers, Bill took his family on trips to Yellowstone National Park, where they would camp in West Yellowstone and explore the park together. One summer, he took them to Glacier National Park, and by 1984, the family was ready for longer adventures. After purchasing a Dodge Caravan, they traveled to Dinosaur National Monument in Utah, went to the amusement park Lagoon, and visited the Great Salt Lake.
These trips became a cherished tradition, leading to family trips in 1986 to San Diego, in 1988 to Chicago, and in 1997 to Denver. As a baseball family, their trips were planned around where the Chicago Cubs were playing. Known then as “Big Bill” and “Little Bill,” he and his son shared a love of the game, with Little Bill playing Little League while Big Bill managed the team and umpired countless games.
Bill made a lasting impression not just through what he did, but how he did it. He showed his children the importance of kindness and respect. For example, when collecting Cubs autographs, he encouraged his son to ask politely, “Mr. Sandberg, may we please have your autograph?” rather than shouting or pushing ahead of others. Through his example, his kids learned to treat others with patience, humility, and respect.
Bill was a teacher in the Townsend School system from 1974 until his retirement in 2010. Over 36 years in the classroom, he taught Chemistry and Physics, as well as Algebra I, II and pre-calc as needed, and in the late 80’s, the computer language Basic. He was deeply dedicated to his students and took great pride in educating hundreds throughout his career.
He had a gift for breaking down challenging subjects and making them understandable, always striving to make learning both engaging and fun. His dry sense of humor and wit was known in his classroom. One year, when his son was in his Chemistry class, a fellow student wondered aloud why his son had an A. Bill jokingly replied, “Well, he should – he wrote the tests.” Everyone in the classroom broke out laughing. This moment captures his wit and humor, and the memorable environment he worked so hard to create while educating young minds.
To Bill, teaching was more than simply educating on a subject. It was deeply important to him to challenge students to think critically, reason through the problem, and apply the logic he was imparting. He knew students might not choose a career in his subjects, but he also knew the ability to reason and think with logic would last them for a lifetime.
In addition to teaching, Bill held a variety of other jobs to support his family. He and Evelyn managed the Townsend Housing Senior apartments for many years, he worked at the sawmill, served many summers as the county mosquito manager, and, for more than 30 years, proudly worked at Deep Creek Cemetery.
Bill lived his life in service to others. He proudly served his country in the Air Force, devoted himself to his students, and supported young athletes by managing Little League teams and refereeing basketball games. He served his community on the Board of Directors for the Broadwater Food Pantry and was an active member of the United Methodist Church.
But most of all, he loved serving his family and serving the Lord. He was at his best when helping someone or meeting a need he knew would make a difference. For many years, he gladly donated blood, knowing his blood type was rare and often needed for NICU babies. His love of kids extended beyond his own family and students to tiny babies he would never meet, trusting his donation could help those in need.
Bill was preceded in death by his mother, Alice; his father, Harry; and his older brother Harry Jr. He is survived by his loving wife, Evelyn, of Townsend; his daughter Kimberly Martin of Helena; his son, Bill (Tami) Alley of Polson; his daughter, Karen (Mark Douglass) Alley of Helena; his younger brothers Roy of Whitehall and Andy of Plentywood; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Bill’s cremains will be laid to rest in Deep Creek Cemetery. In honor of his memory and legacy, the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to the Broadwater Food Pantry, the Broadwater Community Foundation, or the Deep Creek Cemetery. Bill was deeply committed to these causes, and such donations will continue to support the community he so loved to serve.
A memorial service in celebration of Bill’s life will be at 2:00 PM Friday, March 27, 2026, at the Townsend United Methodist Church, 200 N. Cedar St in Townsend. Burial with military honors will follow at Deep Creek Cemetery, located at 50 Deep Creek Road.
The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the Fort Harrison VA Medical Center and Cooney Healthcare and Rehab Center for the exceptional care and compassion they showed to Bill and his family. The nurses, doctors, and staff at the VA provided attentive and thorough care, and the team at Cooney offered compassionate support to both Bill and his family during his short stay, as well as the St. Peter’s hospice nurses who provided him care.
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