William Carl Smyers passed away Wednesday, June 23, in the Continental Care & Rehab. He was born May 20, 1928, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to William Carl and Viola Mary Zufall Smyers.
Raised and schooled in Brookville, Pennsylvania, Bill moved to Montana in 1947 and joined the US Army in 1950 to serve in occupied Germany Headquarters to perform Signal Codes. An accomplished self-taught tailor, cook, and artist, Bill became Director of the Butte Community Theater until the age of 65. Most of the costumes for 48 shows were created by Bill, his favorite show being “The Music Man”. 45 of those shows were taped professionally between 1981 and 1993, and donated to the Butte Archives. Retiring from Wein’s Men’s Store after 25 years, Bill continued to do alterations for several more years. Bill was a lifetime member and Past Exalted Ruler of the Butte Elks Lodge #240. A proud member of Gold Hill Lutheran Church & Choir for many years, Bill is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Viola Smyers, his brother, David Smyers, and sisters Todd Atcheson, Lillian Martz, and Eleanor Fetters.
The family thanks the staff at Continental Care & Rehab, Frontier Home Health & Hospice, and Dr. Shawna Yates.
Cremation has taken place and interment of Bill‘s ashes will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens. A reception will be held in Bill‘s honor at the Copper King Hotel on July 11 at 1 PM.
Memorials may be made to the Butte Community Theater or the donors choice.
Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or share a memory of Bill.
Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Bill and his family.
Service Schedule
Reception
1:00 p.m.
Sunday July 11, 2021
The Copper King Hotel
4655 Harrison Ave
Butte, Montana 59701
Service Schedule
Reception
1:00 p.m.
Sunday July 11, 2021
The Copper King Hotel
4655 Harrison Ave
Butte, Montana 59701
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Julie Buckley says
a great gentleman and talented and gracious person. Rest in Peace!
Tressie Malloy says
My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Bill was such a wonderful gentleman. I will miss seeing him at my office.
Sincerely
Tressie Malloy
Katie Hursh says
My dearest Daddy Warbucks, Rest In Peace! He was such a wonderful man! It was my pleasure to have known you. I still have my locket he gave me opening night with our pictures in it and is engraved with “ to Annie, love daddy”. I treasure it and my daughter does too!
Frank Gary says
Always a gentleman . We enjoyed meeting folks he knew. Wheaten it was on the street or in a store, he never past a person up who he knew. Always a friendly comment.
Gary Stallings says
Bill was such a kind loving person. He will be missed all who knew him. RIP.
Raylene Kirk says
As a young girl my grandma use to serve him at the five and dime store. She always called him Willy. He was a smart dresser and always very friendly. I feel lucky to have seen him perform in many plays. Bill will be missed by all. God Bless
Stevo says
Bill was always friendly, always said hello, how ya doing and always called you by name. You will missed by all who had the privilege of knowing you! Thanks for all the help in the store Bill, you were a Good old Boy!! RIP Your Friend.
Tammy Shea says
I will miss Bill. He was a dapper gentleman with a great sense of style and he had a way with words. Always a gentle soul that brought a smile to many. My sincerest condolences to family and friends. How lucky we were to have him in our little town
Leslie Das says
My dad Chick Fanning and Bill were on a bowling league together for many years. My mom and I would occasionally see him when we shopped at Wein’s. I was just a kid, but I remember liking him and thinking he was one of the nicest men I knew.
My sincere condolences to all his family and friends.
Leslie (Fanning) Das
John Templin says
Bill was a class act who was articulate, brash, faithful and honest with his feelings. A true friend who would support those in need in the best, unselfish, quiet, unassuming, generous way, often at great cost to himself. I called Bill my friend when living in Butte, as I do now.
Renee Keith says
Such a gentleman, gentle soul, talented. Rest in Peace precious Bill. Blessings to your family
Bets Johnson says
Bill was my Boss and a friend. First met him when he was my boss at the Retail Clerks Union. He was such a caring and understanding man. This world needs so many more like him. Bill you will be missed by many.
Sue Heald says
I was fortunate to have been in a few of the plays Bill directed. His vitality & enthusiasm was inspiring to us actors. He loved the stage & we loved him. Now on with the show. Thank you Bill
Mary McMahon says
Remembering Bill brings back a flood of truly delightful memories of being lucky enough to be cast in a few of his productions. Bill had a clear & concise expectation of how the show should be presented to his audiences & he never failed in his efforts. If you were lucky enough to be in his shows – as the saying goes – you indeed were lucky enough! Rest in peace my friend.
Henry Gonshak says
I knew Bill fairly well, mostly through the theater community in Butte. He was extremely talented as a director, a costumer, an actor, and in the variety of other roles a theater company requires. He was a warm, funny, kind, attractively eccentric man. I will miss him. Please extend my condolences to his family and friends at their loss.
Deb Stepaniuk ( Dixon) says
Bill was a terrific man, a great singer & always a pleasure to see. Both my parents Bill & Mary Dixon were members of Gold Hill, in fact my whole family was. Bill had a talent that was unbelievable. Whenever I was in town, I’d go to church with my Mom & Bill would go out of his way to visit with me. A true gentlemen, will be sadly missed, RIP Bill. 🙏🙏🙏
Debra Schultz says
To me he was known as my Uncle Carl. he was/is one of the nicest, sweetest gentleman I have ever met. And boy could he sing……………………………He always looked me up at Wal-mart just to say hello and see how I was doing……He was my mother’s stepbrother, Peace be with you Uncle.