William Willis Goodridge
William Willis Goodridge died on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, of complications from Alzheimer’s. Bill was born on May 5, 1932, at home on the farm in Provo, Utah, to Lynn Willis Goodridge and Ada Elizabeth Hamilton Goodridge.
He graduated from Lincoln High School and began studying geology at Brigham Young University. In 1952 the Korean War was underway and he decided to enlist in the US Navy before being drafted into the army. He served on the USS Bexar and was honorably discharged from the Navy in August 1954.
Bill returned to BYU and met a beautiful young woman, Keturah Josephine Rush, from Lima, MT, in his physics class. Bill and Jo were married on June 4, 1957 in the Salt Lake Temple of Latter-day Saints Church of Jesus Christ. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where Sidona, Tim, Chris and David were born.
In July 1982 the family moved to Billings, where they have lived ever since. He loved living in MT with its wide open skies and access to all kinds of outdoor activities.
Dad began his involvement with Boy Scouts when he was still in high school, working with younger Boy Scouts, and thus beginning his lifelong ministry to young men until Alzheimer’s limited his ability to work with them. He and Jo served as workers in Billings Temple from October 1999, when it opened, until their health no longer permitted them.
Bill leaves behind his loving wife Jo, the children Sidona Wagstaff (Brad), Tim Goodridge (Pam), Chris Goodridge, David Goodridge (Rachel) and Jennifer Lawrence as well as the grandchildren Matt and Paul (Michaela) Wagstaff, Henry, Will and Jane Goodridge, Madison, Jordan and Luke Goodridge, and David and Grace Erekson. His younger brother John Goodridge (Glenda) also survived.
Funeral services will be held at Latter-day Saints Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1640 Broadmoor Drive, Billings, 59105, Saturday, December 4 at 11 a.m., visits from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. In honor of Dad’s Service with BSA, if you’ve been connected with Scouts, feel free to wear Scout shirts or scarves. For a full obituary, please visit www.smithfuneralchapels.com.
Published by Billings Gazette on November 28, 2021.
Comments are closed.