Wilhelm Bill Frederick Kesler

Visitation: Friday, August 25th, from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Terry

Funeral Service: Saturday, August 26th at 1:00 PM at Hope American Lutheran Church in Fallon.

Interment: Prairie County Cemetery in

TerryWilhelm F. (Bill) Kesler, age 90, formerly of Fallon and Miles City Montana, passed away on August 19th at Gateway Residential Living in Springfield, Oregon.

Bill Kesler was born on April 8, 1916, to John Kesler and Rosina (Roesler) Kesler, at Hoyt, Montana. In 1919, the Kesler family moved to the land on Fallon Flat that Rosina had homesteaded. Bill left school after the 8th grade to help his father on the farm, so his younger siblings could continue their education.Bill married Dorothy Rose Ames at Marsh, MT on February 14, 1943. In 1946, after John and Rosina retired to Fallon, Bill and Dorothy purchased the family farm, where they raised their 5 daughters: Joann, Sharon, Evelyn, Marilyn, and Laura. Bill and Dorothy farmed and ranched, raising registered Angus cattle, until they moved to Fallon in 1979. Bill was a talented welder who designed and built gooseneck trailers, cattle guards, and other functional equipment and decorative items. In
retirement, Bill spent much of his time restoring horse-drawn wagons, buggies, and sleighs, often with Dorothys assistance. They trained several teams of driving horses, and Bill and Dorothy drove their surrey with the fringe on top in numerous parades.

Bill and Dorothy also restored and furnished his mothers homestead cabin, which is on permanent display at the Prairie County Museum. In retirement, Bill and Dorothy also enjoyed dancing and following the Southeastern Montana Old-time Fiddlers.Bill served on many local boards, including the School Board for Garvin School, Board of Directors of the Farmers Union Oil Company of Fallon, the Council on Aging of Prairie County, the Church Council of the Hope American Lutheran Church of Fallon, and the Advisory Committee of the Production Credit Association of Glendive. Bill was a member of the Hope American Lutheran Church of Fallon, the Range Riders of Miles City, an associate member of the Southeastern Montana Fiddlers, and a volunteer at the Prairie County Museum in Terry.

After 54 years of marriage, Dorothy passed away in 1997. Bill lived alone in Fallon for several years before moving to the Eagles Manor in Miles City. Bill moved to Oregon in 2004, to live closer to his daughters. He continued to attend dances several times a week until late 2005.

Bill is survived by his sisters Mathilda (Mrs. Herbert) Schuler of Billings, MT, and Gertrude (Mrs. Marvin) Kaul of Santa Clarita, California; daughters Sharon (Mrs. Ray) Sauser of Eugene, Oregon, and Joann Lenertz, Evelyn (Mrs. Mark) Ruth, Marilyn (Mrs. George) Morgan, and Laura Kesler Quiroz, all of Salem, Oregon; 6 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, brothers Emil and John, sister Freda (Mrs. Earl Ostby), son-in-law Carlos Quiroz, and granddaughter Angela Peters.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 25th, from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Terry. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 26th, at Hope American Lutheran Church in Fallon. Interment will follow in the Prairie County Cemetery in Terry. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com.Memorials in lieu of flowers can be sent to the Range Riders Museum in Miles City, or the American Cancer Society.