Bill West of Scottsbluff, NE died Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at The Western Nebraska Veterans Home in Scottsbluff. A funeral service will be held 10 AM on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at Faith Lutheran Church in Gering with Pastor Brian West and Pastor Jeff Grams officiating. Inurnment will follow at Fairview Cemetery with military honors. Memorials may be made to Faith Lutheran Church or the Western Nebraska Veterans Home. Online condolences may be made by viewing Bill’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com. Bridgman Funeral Home and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements.
Bill was born on March 25, 1934, in Scottsbluff, NE, to Leonard and Katherine (Herdt) West. He attended Scottsbluff schools, graduating in 1953. He attended Scottsbluff Junior College, where he met his wife to be Ruth M. Bledsoe from Alliance, NE. They were married March 31, 1954 in Scottsbluff.
He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1953. He served from 1953 to 1957. He joined the Army National Guard in 1957 and served for 24 years. He retired at the rank of E-9, Command Sargent Major.
Bill worked for the US Postal System in Scottsbluff for 35 years and retired in 1989. He was active in the American Legion where he served as: Post Commander, District Commander, Department Sargent at Arms, and Area D Commander. He also served on the Boys State committee and district bus chairman for Boys and Girls State. He also served as a Voluntary Service Associate Representative for the Cheyenne VA Medical Center and as the VAVS Representative at the Western Nebraska Veterans Home.
Bill coached 23 Club baseball for 17 years. He loved working with the boys. He loved to fish and hunt. After he retired, he really enjoyed playing golf. His retirement job was driving a school bus for Scottsbluff and Gering Public Schools for 16 years.
He is survived by his brother Melvin (Speck) and his wife Doris West; sons Doug and his wife Teri West, Terry and his wife Kristi West, daughter Jeni and her husband Kevin Stansbury; grandchildren: Brian and his wife Erin West, Sara and her husband Adam Breed, Megan Rae West, Brandon Cooper, Katie Cooper, Erin and her husband Paul Ewalt, Amy and her husband Tom Rice, Adam and his wife Lauren West, and Andrew and his wife, Anna West; and 16 great grandchildren.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years Ruth Margaret West and his parents Leonard and Katherine West.