William R. Lowe Jr.

On Oct. 29, 2015, surrounded by family in the home where he lived for 43 years, Bill Lowe was ushered in to meet his Lord and Savior. Good men come and good men go, but men like Bill Lowe fill the hearts of those they touch and are never forgotten. Wise and humble, he was the sum of tremendous parts, cast from a mold broken long ago.

Bill was born on May 21, 1947, coming off the heels of World War II amidst the flurry of the baby boom. Bill’s father, a stern and extremely smart man, was a veteran of the Pacific Theater, who moved his family to Billings to start a construction company. Just as smart, his mother was a school teacher, and a staple of any event put on by or held at American Lutheran Church. He grew up in a loving home founded on unwavering faith and a strong work ethic. He was the youngest of three. Older sister Pam had the patience of Job and the grace of a Saint. Brother Jim took a more daring approach to his endeavors. Inspired by both, Bill was brave and courageous, with a tender heart, traits that stuck with him to the very end.

Bill grew up in a different era. He benefited from a parenting style that this day and age would more than likely elicit a call to Child Protective Services. In lieu of a baby sitter, when Bill was just 7 and Jim was 11, they would get dropped off at Brown’s Lake 20 miles north of town with their golden retriever, Mike, a pup tent, and some canned food. They’d spend these weekends completely on their own, shooting rattlesnakes with BB guns and fishing the lake for whatever bottom feeding fish lay in the murky water. Far from detrimental, these weekends were fundamental to the independent, strong and resourceful man Bill became. These adventures also formed a bond with Jim greater than brotherhood and deeper than blood.

His formative years were filled with baseball, cross country, working on cars and riding his motorcycle. He spent his summers working for his dad’s construction company, doing grunt labor and receiving none of the special favors that come with being the boss’s son—both sides of that equation were adamant on that. It was here, hauling concrete mix, packing sheetrock and sweeping the site, where Bill developed a legendary work ethic. Bottom line, Bill enjoyed work, but more than that, he enjoyed the satisfaction of a job well done. He considered a man’s work ethic a virtue equal to his honesty and integrity. His sons would like you to know that many a sunny Saturday were spent at their property on the Yellowstone with shovels in hand, spools of wire afoot and miles of fence ahead with Bill at the helm trying to instill that same joy in them. I am sure that somewhere in Bill’s heaven is a vast pasture land in dire need of a taut and true fence line.

He didn’t know it at the time, but Bill met the love of his life, Barb Thies, at a Split Dance held at the YWCA in the 9th grade. From that first dance, a spark was lit that would never burn out. That same year, attending Lincoln Junior High, he met a friend he ended up treasuring for life in Doug Iams. Together they embarked on countless exploits and got each other into as much trouble as teenage boys should. After graduating from Senior High in 1965, he and Doug would enlist in the Army Reserves together.

Bill treasured education. You could always find a history book in the house with dog-eared pages. He felt very privileged for the opportunity to pursue his college degree. He attended Colorado State University where he earned a degree in business. All this time, he kept in touch with Barb Thies through weekly phone calls and loving letters. They cherished their times together back in Billings over every holiday and summers. Driving home from Colorado, Bill always stopped by her house first before arriving home to his parents. His father could have paid for his tuition, but Bill refused. Drawing from his upbringing, Bill kicked it into overdrive and worked up to three jobs while attending class to cover college costs and also to surprise Barb with an engagement ring.

Taking a job with Continental Oil out of college, the newlyweds had brief stints in Denver and Nebraska. But Bill’s heart always lay in Montana and he jumped on the first opportunity to move back. His ambition and keen eye for opportunity quickly found promise in Montana Radiator Works. After a cup of coffee with the owner and a year of sweeping the floors, he bought the business. He poured his blood, sweat and tears into that business, yet always saved his best time for his family. Almost without exception, he would pull into the driveway by 5:30. And almost without exception there was a son or two waiting with a baseball glove or a basketball. He never let the stresses of work show at home and after lively family dinners would often throw grounders or play horse until dark. God blessed Bill with a business that he loved and a family that he always loved more. He was a faithful and successful steward of both.

Back in Montana, two key events occurred that sharpened the focus of Bill’s life: he and Barb began to build a family with the birth of Zach, and Bill surrendered his life wholly to Jesus Christ. Shortly after, Isaac and Sam rounded out the crew of toe-headed sons and they were off from there. Bill and Barb always kept their house open, hosting bible studies and offering a spare bedroom to anyone in need of a temporary home. One of these temporary boarders, Debbie Cathy, started as a guest and quickly became a beloved, permanent member of the family.

A true patriarch, Bill always treated his young sons with the respect due a grown man; he was confident they’d earn it someday. Most rules were established by the example he set, but it was always made clear that the Lord was the head of his household. As a father, his discipline was always surpassed by his forgiveness, and encouragement far outweighed criticism. He considered it a privilege God trusted him to raise three sons. Bill had a few principals he repeated often: Do What You Say, Finish Well, Clean Your Plate, Fresh Air Cures All, Stick Together But Don’t Bunch Up, No Whining, No Coughing and Don’t Act Sick. To this day, his sons still feel that a nagging cough is an admission of weakness.

In everything Bill took on, he thought it a sin to give any less than his all. He would always set goals, and enjoyed the work and practice as much as the success. Whether it was sporting clays, business, his marriage or his friendships, he would always strive to improve on every aspect of his life. One of his favorite outlets and most satisfying manifestation of constant improvement was his property along the Yellowstone. Words can’t express how much he loved that stretch of fields and cottonwoods along the Yellowstone River. Through countless projects, and two “Hundred-Year” floods, he taught his sons the value of hard work and perseverance. As an unintentional side effect, the entire Lowe family developed a preternatural tolerance of mosquitoes and howling wind. That aside, any reference to the ranch would be incomplete without mentioning Bill’s love of bow hunting. The sport offered him everything he could ever ask for; hard work, preparation, strategy, skill, accomplishment and peace. He unofficially came out of retirement making it his personal mission to equip every significant cottonwood on the property with a tree stand he welded himself. During any fall Saturday, odds were good that Bill was hunting on the river. And whether alone, with his sons, or with his granddaughters, you can bet that he was smiling.

Along with his projects, Bill put immense effort into cultivating his friendships. He cherished friendship as life’s greatest commodity and this showed itself by the amount of men that called Bill their best friend. He believed the adage, “You’re only as good as the company you keep,” and the caliber of men that darkened Bill’s door in his final days was a testament to his greatness.

Bill’s faith in Christ was lived out in tangible ways. He and his family started attending Faith Evangelical Church in the early 80’s—where two of his boys met their future spouses—and over time became a respected lay leader in the church. He also led a Tuesday morning men’s Bible Study for approximately 30 years, and helped organize several short-term missionary trips to Guatemala and Haiti. In all of these endeavors, he not only cultivated a deeper relationship with his Savior, but impacted countless lives and developed life-long friendships in the process.

In 2008, Bill was diagnosed with cancer. It started the greatest chapter in his life, and it would be his last. From the very beginning, Bill told Barb, “I want to live life, not live cancer.” When he was supposed to rest, he’d go hunting. When the chemo made him sick, he’d take his granddaughters on ice cream dates. When he could hardly eat, he’d take Barb to dinner. And when he could hardly walk, he’d gladly limp into church with the help of his wife. As Bill weakened, Barb took on a strength few could boast. He never tired of letting people know he’d married the best woman around, and her love for him was always written all over her face. But cancer is a vicious disease and sadly, toughness often only goes so far. The disease reduces men to their most basic elements. But as his strengths, skills and dignity were slowly stripped away, it revealed what made Bill so great; Christ’s power and love in him. Throughout his life, Bill would often speak of Joseph’s response in Genesis 50:20. “…you intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.” He knew cancer would eventually take him, but he was confident his sovereign God would use it all for good. God brought him to a profoundly deeper level of trust, thanksgiving and worship. A tenderness, often veiled before, was brought to the forefront, and the love of Christ touched countless others through Bill. Everyone and everything Bill cared about was strengthened by his struggle. So, yes, cancer won the battle. But in Christ, Bill won the war long ago.

One of the rules Bill stated often was “Finish Well.” He certainly did.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

Bill is preceded in death by his father William R. Lowe Sr., and brother Ray Westrum Lowe.

He is survived by his mother, Connie Lowe (101 yrs.); sister, Pam Lowe (Bob McCleave); brother, Jim (Janet); his wife of 46 years, Barb; his 3 sons: Zach (Zena); Isaac (Kasey), granddaughters Virginia and Hazel; Sam (Hilary), grandchildren Lindy, Glory, Ruth, and Owen; daughter Debbie Ludwick (Jason), grandchildren Jaron and Maddy, He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Pat Coram; brother-in-law, John (Kelly) Thies; his nieces and nephews that considered him a father figure in their lives Kurt and Scott Lowe; Rob, Misty and Brad Lowe; John, Dave and Mark Coram; Hannah, Dan and Luke Thies.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Faith E Church or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org).

A celebration of Bill’s life will be at 2 p.m., Nov. 4 at Faith E Church (3145 Sweet Water Drive 59102).