William Newell

William “Bill” Newell left this world peacefully on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Bismarck, ND. He was 87.

Bill considered Washington state his home. He earned an economics degree from Central Washington University where he met his first wife Donna. They were the parents of three children.

He was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force and served his country as a navigator during war and peace in a career that included service in Vietnam and work in Military Airlift Command, Air Rescue Service, Tactical Air Command, Air Training Command, and Strategic Air Command. He retired in 1981 with rank of Major, serving his last assignment at Grand Forks Air Force Base in ND. 

Bill enjoyed a second career, earning a computer science diploma and then working for the Clover Park School District until retiring again. 

He believed in life-long learning and also attended Pierce College where he met and subsequently married Ruth Hollo. Working side-by-side, Bill and Ruth each earned a master's degree in human resource management from Chapman University.

Bill is survived by his first wife and friend Donna; his children Karl (Leanne) Newell; Heather (Brian) Steffl, and Jennifer (Mel) Gallaway; sister-in-law Gail Newell; nephew Robert (Brenna) Newell, and his grandchildren: Lance (Skye) Steffl, Allison (Nate) Martindale, Kent Steffl, Erika Gallaway; Alex Newell and Claire (Daniel) Buhrow, and his great-grandchildren. In addition, Bill is survived by his wife Ruth’s children: Peter (Cheryl) Koolis; Stephen Koolis; Karen (Jeff) Chambers; and Robert (Stephanie) Koolis; and his bonus grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Anna, his second wife Ruth, his brother Thomas (Gail), and his stepdaughters Kaye Forde and Rue Hudgings. 

A celebration of life will be held in the Pacific Northwest at a future date.