William "Bill" Lee Carhuff III, 66

Whitehall's self-appointed town mayor, local historian, face of the VFW, the Grinch in the town of Whoville, the beloved town grump; William "Bill" Lee Carhuff III passed away on Thursday, January 14, 2021 in Missoula, Montana.

If you knew Bill you knew his three boys, though we are pretty sure you all know those boys in your own way. Bill had his own unique advice, facts and saying he loved to share with all those who listened, though the boys will always say "dad doesn't want us lilydicking around". We all got our own beloved nicknames, which changed as often as he could, but you always knew who he was referring to and what needed to be done.

Bill didn't ever want a big deal made about him, or for him, though as his family we would be sad if we didn't share the facts and information that made Bill our dad. We hope that as you read this, you think of your own Bill stories, how he touched your life, and take a small moment to remember the man we all know and love.

Bill had a zest for life, a deep love for his family, and a vast knowledge of all things military. He will be greatly missed by friends and family alike.

Bill was born in Dover, New Jersey on July 2nd, 1954 to William Lee Carhuff Jr. and Irene (Duffy) Carhuff. He grew up in Mt. Arlington, New Jersey, and attended Roxbury High School.

Bill was a decorated military veteran. He served in the United States Army National Guard, Navy, and Army from 1971-1992. Bill lived in Germany and Korea during his years of service. He was extremely proud of his service, as was his family. After his retirement from the military, he spent many years as a long-haul truck driver. In 2009, he officially retired, or as he put it, he became a "man of leisure."

During his leisure years, Bill was a fixture in his hometown of Whitehall, MT. He volunteered countless hours to the Whitehall VFW Post, orchestrating events from parades to auctions to bingo. Bill was an avid military historian, and he had an impressive collection of military memorabilia. He also donated several historical and military artifacts to the Jefferson Valley Museum in Whitehall.

Bill is survived by his sons, William Carhuff IV, John Carhuff, and Nathan Carhuff, his sister April Manning, nephew Chase Manning, 9 grandchildren, and many extended family members.