Obituary - William Brant "Bill" Strissel

William Brant "Bill" Strissel was born July 18, 1957, at Whitefish, Montana, to William A. Slocum and Delores May Genger. After Bill's parents divorced in 1964, he moved with his mother to Box Elder where he attended grade school for a year. They moved to Rudyard in 1965 when his mother married Allan Strissel. Bill grew up on the Strissel farm south of Rudyard and finished his formal education at Rudyard High School, where he graduated in 1975. He continued his schooling at Montana State University in Bozeman for a short while, then began working at the Hanford Nuclear site in Washington and oil rigs in Wyoming and Montana. Bill returned to Rudyard in 1978 and took a job with the Burlington Northern Railroad.

Bill married his high school sweetheart, Nellie Jo Dockter, on Sept. 1, 1979. They made their home in Rudyard and began raising their three sons: Jacob, Matthew and Joshua. The couple was married 19 years when Nellie died in a car accident in 1997. Bill remained steadfast and raised his sons to adulthood.

He worked for the BNSF for 37 years - first in the diesel shop, then as a brakeman, later as a yardmaster and finally as a conductor. Bill was affectionately called "Spud" by all of his good railroad friends. He was an active member of the United Transportation Union, having served as the local chairman and as a union representative. Bill worked for the railroad until 2013 when he was diagnosed with melanoma. He stayed positive throughout his cancer treatment, but just couldn't stay ahead of the dreadful disease. After a week's stay in the Liberty Medical Center in Chester, Bill died peacefully on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. He was 58 years old.

Bill maintained a quiet spirituality during his life. Interestingly, he was baptized Catholic, confirmed Lutheran, married a Catholic girl, raised his boys Catholic and practiced a little of both faiths.

He enjoyed many activities throughout the years. Some of his early interests included bowling, hunting, fishing, hiking and camping. More recently he enjoyed photography, collecting rocks for his rock garden, playing poker and solitaire and cooking (he made an awesome potato salad with a secret recipe). In his quiet time at home he loved to read "Old West" novels, especially about mountain men and American Indian cultures and spirituality. Bill loved the NHL and was an avid fan of the Edmonton Oilers. He and his boys always looked forward to their annual New Year's hockey trips to Canada. Bill has always loved drag racing, both as a participant and a spectator. He enjoyed motorcycles and those many memorable road trips. He appreciated the "back roads of Montana" and always tried to take a different route on every trip, so he could experience new country and new scenery. Of interest was the fact that Bill gave all of his vehicles special names (for instance, his Honda Shadow motorcycle was affectionately called "Sasha").

Bill was a kind, caring and generous soul who loved his family and his fellow man. He will be missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nellie Jo in 1997; his brother, Rick in 1991; his step-father, Allan in 1995; and his mother, Delores in 2015.

Bill is survived by his three sons, Jake Strissel of Havre, Matt Strissel of Rudyard, and Josh (Katie) Strissel of Bozeman; one grandson, Brandon William Strissel of Bozeman; his father, William (Linda) Slocum of Garfield, Washington; one brother, Dave Strissel of Rudyard; two sisters, Lana Smeenk of Cleburne, Texas, and Heidi (Ben) Elder of Colbert, Washington; three nieces, Ashten, Layna and Lauren; three nephews, Jayce, Jayden, and Landon; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at New Beginnings Lutheran Church in Rudyard. Burial of ashes will follow in the Rudyard Cemetery. A reception will then be held at the church. Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester.

Memorials are suggested to the established "Nellie Strissel Scholarship Fund" for North Star High School Students, in care of Willard Fladager at Waddell & Reed, 1465 Highway 2, Suite C, Havre, MT 59501.