Galen Keith Bills

On December 5th, 2017, the world became a little less colorful. Our dear, sweet dad, grandpa, great grandpa and friend Galen Keith Bills, passed away peacefully. 84 years ago on June 23, 1933, Galen was born to Mabel Earlene Goodnight and Kenneth Alfred Bills, in Wichita Kansas. The world hasn't been the same since! To know our dad, was to love him.

Galen was born during the Great Depression and he learned at a young age he needed to help his family earn money. At the age of 5, he sang his way up and down the streets singing , "Has Anyone Seen My Kitty", by Tex Ritter. People adored him! As cute and charming as he was when he was a "little man" (as his grandparents called him), Dad used that wit and charm, to sweep our mother off her feet on a blind date. He married Judy VonElsner on December14th, 1957.

They brought 4 fun-loving kids into the world: Anna Daniels (John), Ogden Utah; John Bills, Norco California; Julie Watman, Ogden Utah and Laura Schiffman (Matt), Pocatello, Idaho. Dad was a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was baptized when he was 33 years old. Because of this great event, we kids were all privileged to have been sealed together as a family in the Los Angeles Temple. We were blessed to have parents that loved us and a dad who taught us many good and important things in life. He served tirelessly in many church callings. The ward members enjoyed serving with him in any capacity. He knew how to make people laugh and enjoy themselves, so this made service all the sweeter.

Dad attended college at Polytech Riverside College in California. He also served proudly in the United States Air force, which then paved the way to becoming an Air Traffic Controller. He enjoyed being an Air Traffic Controller for many reasons, however, the best reason could have been, he played Santa Claus at the company Christmas parties and with his outgoing, friendly personality and physical appearance, he made the perfect Santa!

Dad was never one to sit for very long at one thing. He eventually moved onto Real Estate, becoming a Broker. Real-estate became a lifelong job and hobby. Other than hanging out with kids and grandkids, buying and selling real-estate were a close second; and an obsession! We are pretty sure he knows most of the real-estate agents in town.

Dad was always willing to help someone in need whether it be family members or those less fortunate. He was known for hiring the down trodden and even taking in a family from Vietnam who was escaping the war. Dad will be remembered as a simple man who loved to get a good deal, shopping at garage sales and early Saturday morning swap meets with the grandkids.

Arby's and Hardee's Restaurants will always have his name attached to them. All You Can Eat Hardees Parties were an all-time favorite morning breakfast with grandkids.

Dad also operated a successful insurance company in Ogden, Utah out of his home. This was also a gathering place for kids and grandkids to have sleepovers. One especially memorable sleepover has been remembered as, "The Mother of All Sleepovers", that is still talked about today! The old saying rings true, "What happens at grandpa's, stays at grandpa's."

Sadly, Dad was forced to close his insurance business when tragedy struck on December 24th, 1996, when he had a severe debilitating stroke. His speech was robbed from him and the left side of his body was significantly weakened. Our world was shaken. No longer would we have our talkative, outgoing, busy dad and grandpa. So We Thought!

Dad always had a saying, "We've all got problems!" Well, this was a problem that wasn't going to get the best of him! Dad fought hard to regain what he lost. In some ways he became better. Dad taught us to never give up and to keep on going no matter what. Dad moved to Idaho not too long after his stroke. He made wonderful friends in Idaho. Everywhere he went, whether at the bank, grocery store or Home Depot, we would hear, "Hi Galen"! As much as he enjoyed going to other places to visit family, he came back home and would yell, I-D-A- H-O!
His greatest joy was family. Dad leaves behind a posterity of 46 kids, grandkids and great grandkids, who will treasure the memories you created and left for them.

Words cannot express how much we will miss our funny, thoughtful, loving dad. We will miss his bear hugs and hard pats on the back. We take comfort in knowing, you are having the time of your life in this next journey, talking and saying all the things you haven't been able to say for the last 20 years. Dad will be joyously greeted by many of his loved ones. The most excited will be, his mother Mabel and his Sissy, Anita Rusho.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 23, 2017 at Wilks Funeral Home 211 W. Chubbuck Road. Family will receive friends at a viewing on hour prior to services starting at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow services in the Inkom Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family online at wilksfuneralhome.com.

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