William Thomas "Bill" Zader

Florence  -  William “Bill” Thomas Parsons Zader March 1, 1947 – September 22, 2024 Bill died quietly and unexpectedly on a sunny beautiful Montana day while standing in his garden in Florence, MT. He was waiting months for his echocardiogram with contrast so he could have his leaking heart valve corrected.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Gustave Zader and Margaret Katherine Parsons Zader. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Heaney Zader, Florence, MT; former wife Judi Rivers Drake, Missoula, MT; former wife Anne Dubose, San Antonio, TX; sister Sheila Anne Staggs, Lexington, KY; brothers Gus (Diane) Zader, Dandridge, TN, John (Jennifer) Zader, Bel Air, MD, Jim (Sue) Zader, Kyle, TX; daughters Katherine Lee Zader, Nacona, TX; Ann Marie Zader, Seattle, WA; granddaughter Taylor (Garrett Peters) Watson, Nacona, TX; grandson Thomas Zader Teniente, Missoula, MT; great grandson Gordon Lane Peters, Nacona, TX along with many loved cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, neighbors and business associates.

Bill was born in Charleston, S.C. where his Dad taught mathematics at the Citadel before moving to Montana, the place Bill loved. One summer, Bill(14) and Gus(16) worked as junior counselors at Lost Trail Camp, and the camp thought they were 16 and 18. This is where Bill began his career of telling war stories at night to get the kids settled down for bed and where he deepened his love for horses.

Among Bill’s passions were horses, aviation, education and history. Bill did a lot of work with wild mustangs in Wyoming, including adopting many into his herd. He loved flying and had his private pilot’s license for most of his life. One of his first jobs was teaching school in West Virginia with multiple ages in one class room. As the only male teacher, Bill was charged with arriving early to start the wood stove and heat the building. Later in life, educating all to the details of the history of Montana, the Bitterroot Valley and the Native Americans that inhabited the area, Bill loved giving tours of the area while imparting the history.

As one of the “grey foxes” in the community, Bill contributed greatly to making Missoula what it is today. As president of the University of Montana Foundation, and with the help of key businessmen and women, they created the first fundraising apparatus for the University, the Excellence Fund, which grew over the years and funded scholarships, the night school, the Mansfield Center and many other annual programs.

Bill led the fundraising which brought the community the Performing Arts/Radio TV Building, the Washington Grizzly Stadium and the lead gift for the Business School Building.

Bill secured the gift of the Milwaukee Road Train Station to entice the Boone and Crocket Club to relocate in Missoula. Bill served as a founding board member for one of our nation’s Grizzly Bear Research Foundations that pioneered satellite tracking and habitat analysis.

Bill served as a consultant to numerous non-profit organizations including Carlton Protection Trust, a 501(3)(c). He had an extraordinary life with extraordinary accomplishments and he never met a stranger. He led with compassion and did so much for so many in his 77 years. Bill was creative and excelled in putting people and projects together. He had an incredible mind that never stopped creating, always thinking about projects at hand and taking them to the next step while sipping coffee on the front porch.

Bill’s infectious smile along with his quick wit kept everyone smiling and his wonderful stories always kept us laughing, especially when they ended with “well, that could be true!” As a real estate Broker, Bill was associated with several franchises before starting his own company, Western Montana Realty Group; clients loved him for his openness, extensive knowledge, and he told his stories to friends and clients alike.

Bill had many passions, but most of all Bill was passionate about his family, friends, and his patriotism. Bill believed Montana was truly “the last best place” and “if you want to talk to God, come to Montana.” The community has lost its best cowboy and we’re sure Bill is having great conversations with God now.

Memorials in Bill’s name can be made to a charity of your choice, or please consider one of his favorite non-profits: Carlton Protection Trust, P.O. Box 1556, Lolo, MT 59847 or PreBorn, P.O. Box 78221, Indianapolis, IN 46278.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William Thomas "Bill" Zader, please visit our floral store.