John W. (Bill) Starkey

Malta - John W. (Bill) Starkey passed away peacefully on November 23, 2017, Thanksgiving Day, surrounded by family in Great Falls, Mont. Viewing was at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Malta on Tuesday, November 28 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. with Rosary to following at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 29 with burial to follow in the Malta Cemetery. Memorials in Bill's name may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church or to the charity of the donor's choice. Holland and Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Bill's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Bill was born August 7, 1929, in Saco, Mont., to Albert and Ida (Martin) Starkey. Bill was educated in the school of hard knocks. He started his job adventures working for numerous Phillips County farming and ranching families.

Bill joined the Montana National Guard in the early 50's and later was employed with the Pure Oil Company, traveling to numerous states, eventually making his way back to Montana to reside in Malta where he took up many jobs. In the 60's, Bill and Evelyn started their own earth moving business and trucking business. Bill leveled many fields, built many of the reservoirs, and hauled many loads of livestock and grain. One of Bill's treasured stories, was his hauling Elk from Gardner, Mont., to the Slippery Ann game reserve. He sold his last semitruck in the mid-90's with plans to retire, but never totally retiring until moving to Timber Creek Village in Havre, Mont., in October of 2014.

Bill Starkey was a member of several organizations including the Jaycees, Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, Malta Club, Malta Athletic Club, Walleyes Unlimited and the Malta Fire Department.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn, two infant daughters, three great grandsons, his parents, sister, Leona Starkey and brothers, Orville Starkey, Clifford Starkey, Dayton Starkey and Kyle Starkey.

Bill is survived by three children, Sheryl "Sherry" Davison and her husband, John, of Havre, Richard Starkey and his wife, Shawn, of Malta and Timothy Starkey and his wife, Connie, of Great Falls; seven grandchildren, Kristine Boyer of Alliance, Neb., John Evan Davison of Havre, Amanda, Samantha and Kylie Starkey of Malta, Trenton Starkey of Seattle, Wash., and Taylor Starkey of Great Falls; and 12 great grandchildren. Also survived by a sister, Elizbeth Farmer of Mesa, Ariz., sisters-in-law. Mickey Starkey of Shelton, Wash., Midge Starkey of Kennewick, Wash., Lewellyn McNamara, Lillian Boos and Karen Boos of Malta and Mary Lou Lavey and Joyce Boos of Scobey.