Harold F. ‘Bill’ Newton

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(Sept. 1, 1926 - Sept. 29, 2013)

Harold F. “Bill” Newton died on Sept. 29, 2013, at his home in Deaver. He was 87.

He was born on Sept. 1, 1926, in Palmyra, Neb., to Dr. Harold G. Newton, a veterinarian, and Jeannette C. McKay. Bill was youngest of three boys. Richard and John were his older brothers. 

The family moved to New Jersey during the Dust Bowl days.

Bill went to boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Center and served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, from 1944-46. He served on the battleship U.S.S. Iowa. After the war, he was transferred to U.S.S. Belleau Wood.

On April 3, 1954, he married Bertie Sloan in Washington, N.J. They later divorced.

He graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York City with a certificate in advertising design. He helped develop the Art Department at Northwest College in 1965-66. He earned a B.A. degree in visual art from the University of Wyoming in 1968.

Bill and Bertie moved west to Wyoming in 1957. They owned and worked Rivers Rest Ranch on Jim Creek, west of Cody.

In 1972, the family moved to a ranch on Crooked Creek, Mont., north of Lovell. In 1976, the family moved into another family-built home between Cowley and Deaver.

Bill started the John Colter Mountain Men in Cody in 1957. Bill and family enjoyed many Mountain Man Rendezvous over the years. Bill was known as “Pryor Mountain Bill.”

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother Hazel C. Hamilton Newton and his two brothers. 

He is survived by Kate Williamson Newton; daughter Berta Newton and son Will Newton.

Memorial donations may be made to favorite cat and dog shelters.

Haskell Funeral Home in Lovell was in charge of arrangements.

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