A Celebration of Life for Bill McKelvie of Newcastle will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, 2019 at Fort Belknap.
William Dean “Bill” McKelvie was born on July 8, 1939 in Pennsylvania.
He passed in to the next life on March 8 in Newcastle after a long, hard fought battle with cancer.
Bill was blessed by many people but he had two special angels on earth. Roslyn Fowler and Jeff French are the model of what friendship truly is.
Bill was a staunch Democrat. He remained respectful when encountering those with differing opinions but he could become animated while expressing himself.
There were no “heel spurs” for Bill. In 1954, two years before he was old enough he lied about his age and joined the United States Marine Corps.
He loved horses. At the young age of 12, he worked after school and during the summer to buy his first horse. Bill always owned at least one horse, usually many more.
Bill loved his grandchildren. According to friends, he never missed an opportunity to brag about them and he loved to show off their most recent pictures.
There was a special place in his heart for his son in law, Jamey. Rumor has it he frequently bragged about him too.
“The nut doesn’t fall far from the tree,” was true for Bill and his daughter, Diana Michelle. As they aged they found amusement in how much alike they really were - something the rest of us always saw.
Bill was proceeded in death by his parents: Thomas and Jean McKelvie. His sister: Linda Cooper and his brother, Richard “Dick” McKelvie.
He is survived by a daughter: Diana Michelle Whitaker and her husband, Jamey of Texas. A daughter: Melody Weise of Texas. A son: John McKelvie and wife, Dusty of Utah. Ten grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers you may donate to the Democratic National Committee, the American Cancer Society or the Cancer Research Center. But above all else, be kind to one another.
“I’m going to miss you, Jethro. Stay hungry.”