John William "Bill" Bedford was born March 27, 1927, in Multnomah County, Ore., to Jack H. Bedford and Ruth E. Light. He died in Colorado on Aug. 8, 2009.
Bill was proud to have grown up in the roaring Roundup days of Pendleton, Ore. He graduated from Pendleton High School in 1945 and, upon graduation, followed in his father's footsteps by signing on to serve in the U.S. Navy during the last year of World War II. While serving in the Navy, Bill received both the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. After his honorable discharge, Bill studied at Oregon State University, where he was initiated into Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He received a bachelor's degree in forestry science and a master's degree in geology.
Bill and Mollie were married March 15, 1952, in Sunnyside, Wash. Their daughter Julie was born in 1953. Jill came along in 1955, and Jack followed in 1958 after they moved to Bakersfield, Calif. While there working as a geologist, Bill made many lifelong friends. In the following years, his oil-exploration work for Texaco and later Depco took the Bedfords to Alaska, Seal Beach, Calif., Valencia, Calif., and finally Evergreen.
Bill enjoyed camping, gardening, skiing and anything to do with the outdoors. He loved exploring the Oregon coast with his family.
After the family moved to Colorado in 1984, Bill and Mollie became well-known for their Evergreen Rodeo parties and Denver Broncos get-togethers on the back deck. Occasionally Bill was known to play his ukulele and sing. Bill passed along his love of travel to his children and grandchildren. He and Mollie visited many exotic locales.
Bill became involved in cycling after his wife bought him a used mountain bike. After he suffered knee injuries from jogging, he bought a road bike, joined the Team Evergreen Bicycle Club and began to train. Along with his friend Art Field, he made the club's Century Ride in 1992, his first time racking up more than 100 miles in one day.
From 1990 to 1999, Bill rode in Ride the Rockies every year. After his first completion of the Triple Bypass in 1992, he and Art became chair and co-chair for the race, positions they held together for four years, in which the event soared in popularity. Bill and Art then put together an annual Father's Day ride across Colorado and Wyoming.
Another highlight of Bill's life was his and Mollie's golden anniversary party in Mexico.
Mollie preceded him in death in 2003.
Bill then met and spent five years enjoying the companionship of Lyn Hiester.
Bill will be missed by everyone who loved him. He was a rock in our lives, quick to tell us when he disapproved of something and also quick to tell us how much he loved us. During his fight against leukemia, he remained hopeful.
He is survived by a brother, Larry of Cottage Grove, Ore; two daughters, Julie Barker of Jackson Hole, Wyo., and Jill Kirkland of Playa del Carmen, Mexico; a son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Deborah Bedford of Jackson Hole, Wyo.; and four grandchildren, William Kirkland, Jeff and Avery Bedford, and Michael Barker. He is also survived by his close companion, Lyn Hiester of Littleton.
A memorial gathering for Bill's friends and family was held this week at his home. His ashes will be sprinkled next summer on the family island in Oregon.
From Canyon Courier in Evergreen CO on 18 Aug 2009.
Bill was proud to have grown up in the roaring Roundup days of Pendleton, Ore. He graduated from Pendleton High School in 1945 and, upon graduation, followed in his father's footsteps by signing on to serve in the U.S. Navy during the last year of World War II. While serving in the Navy, Bill received both the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. After his honorable discharge, Bill studied at Oregon State University, where he was initiated into Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He received a bachelor's degree in forestry science and a master's degree in geology.
Bill and Mollie were married March 15, 1952, in Sunnyside, Wash. Their daughter Julie was born in 1953. Jill came along in 1955, and Jack followed in 1958 after they moved to Bakersfield, Calif. While there working as a geologist, Bill made many lifelong friends. In the following years, his oil-exploration work for Texaco and later Depco took the Bedfords to Alaska, Seal Beach, Calif., Valencia, Calif., and finally Evergreen.
Bill enjoyed camping, gardening, skiing and anything to do with the outdoors. He loved exploring the Oregon coast with his family.
After the family moved to Colorado in 1984, Bill and Mollie became well-known for their Evergreen Rodeo parties and Denver Broncos get-togethers on the back deck. Occasionally Bill was known to play his ukulele and sing. Bill passed along his love of travel to his children and grandchildren. He and Mollie visited many exotic locales.
Bill became involved in cycling after his wife bought him a used mountain bike. After he suffered knee injuries from jogging, he bought a road bike, joined the Team Evergreen Bicycle Club and began to train. Along with his friend Art Field, he made the club's Century Ride in 1992, his first time racking up more than 100 miles in one day.
From 1990 to 1999, Bill rode in Ride the Rockies every year. After his first completion of the Triple Bypass in 1992, he and Art became chair and co-chair for the race, positions they held together for four years, in which the event soared in popularity. Bill and Art then put together an annual Father's Day ride across Colorado and Wyoming.
Another highlight of Bill's life was his and Mollie's golden anniversary party in Mexico.
Mollie preceded him in death in 2003.
Bill then met and spent five years enjoying the companionship of Lyn Hiester.
Bill will be missed by everyone who loved him. He was a rock in our lives, quick to tell us when he disapproved of something and also quick to tell us how much he loved us. During his fight against leukemia, he remained hopeful.
He is survived by a brother, Larry of Cottage Grove, Ore; two daughters, Julie Barker of Jackson Hole, Wyo., and Jill Kirkland of Playa del Carmen, Mexico; a son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Deborah Bedford of Jackson Hole, Wyo.; and four grandchildren, William Kirkland, Jeff and Avery Bedford, and Michael Barker. He is also survived by his close companion, Lyn Hiester of Littleton.
A memorial gathering for Bill's friends and family was held this week at his home. His ashes will be sprinkled next summer on the family island in Oregon.
From Canyon Courier in Evergreen CO on 18 Aug 2009.
John William "Bill" Bedford was born March 27, 1927, in Multnomah County, Ore., to Jack H. Bedford and Ruth E. Light. He died in Colorado on Aug. 8, 2009.
Bill was proud to have grown up in the roaring Roundup days of Pendleton, Ore. He graduated from Pendleton High School in 1945 and, upon graduation, followed in his father's footsteps by signing on to serve in the U.S. Navy during the last year of World War II. While serving in the Navy, Bill received both the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. After his honorable discharge, Bill studied at Oregon State University, where he was initiated into Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He received a bachelor's degree in forestry science and a master's degree in geology.
Bill and Mollie were married March 15, 1952, in Sunnyside, Wash. Their daughter Julie was born in 1953. Jill came along in 1955, and Jack followed in 1958 after they moved to Bakersfield, Calif. While there working as a geologist, Bill made many lifelong friends. In the following years, his oil-exploration work for Texaco and later Depco took the Bedfords to Alaska, Seal Beach, Calif., Valencia, Calif., and finally Evergreen.
Bill enjoyed camping, gardening, skiing and anything to do with the outdoors. He loved exploring the Oregon coast with his family.
After the family moved to Colorado in 1984, Bill and Mollie became well-known for their Evergreen Rodeo parties and Denver Broncos get-togethers on the back deck. Occasionally Bill was known to play his ukulele and sing. Bill passed along his love of travel to his children and grandchildren. He and Mollie visited many exotic locales.
Bill became involved in cycling after his wife bought him a used mountain bike. After he suffered knee injuries from jogging, he bought a road bike, joined the Team Evergreen Bicycle Club and began to train. Along with his friend Art Field, he made the club's Century Ride in 1992, his first time racking up more than 100 miles in one day.
From 1990 to 1999, Bill rode in Ride the Rockies every year. After his first completion of the Triple Bypass in 1992, he and Art became chair and co-chair for the race, positions they held together for four years, in which the event soared in popularity. Bill and Art then put together an annual Father's Day ride across Colorado and Wyoming.
Another highlight of Bill's life was his and Mollie's golden anniversary party in Mexico.
Mollie preceded him in death in 2003.
Bill then met and spent five years enjoying the companionship of Lyn Hiester.
Bill will be missed by everyone who loved him. He was a rock in our lives, quick to tell us when he disapproved of something and also quick to tell us how much he loved us. During his fight against leukemia, he remained hopeful.
He is survived by a brother, Larry of Cottage Grove, Ore; two daughters, Julie Barker of Jackson Hole, Wyo., and Jill Kirkland of Playa del Carmen, Mexico; a son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Deborah Bedford of Jackson Hole, Wyo.; and four grandchildren, William Kirkland, Jeff and Avery Bedford, and Michael Barker. He is also survived by his close companion, Lyn Hiester of Littleton.
A memorial gathering for Bill's friends and family was held this week at his home. His ashes will be sprinkled next summer on the family island in Oregon.
From Canyon Courier in Evergreen CO on 18 Aug 2009.
Bill was proud to have grown up in the roaring Roundup days of Pendleton, Ore. He graduated from Pendleton High School in 1945 and, upon graduation, followed in his father's footsteps by signing on to serve in the U.S. Navy during the last year of World War II. While serving in the Navy, Bill received both the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. After his honorable discharge, Bill studied at Oregon State University, where he was initiated into Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He received a bachelor's degree in forestry science and a master's degree in geology.
Bill and Mollie were married March 15, 1952, in Sunnyside, Wash. Their daughter Julie was born in 1953. Jill came along in 1955, and Jack followed in 1958 after they moved to Bakersfield, Calif. While there working as a geologist, Bill made many lifelong friends. In the following years, his oil-exploration work for Texaco and later Depco took the Bedfords to Alaska, Seal Beach, Calif., Valencia, Calif., and finally Evergreen.
Bill enjoyed camping, gardening, skiing and anything to do with the outdoors. He loved exploring the Oregon coast with his family.
After the family moved to Colorado in 1984, Bill and Mollie became well-known for their Evergreen Rodeo parties and Denver Broncos get-togethers on the back deck. Occasionally Bill was known to play his ukulele and sing. Bill passed along his love of travel to his children and grandchildren. He and Mollie visited many exotic locales.
Bill became involved in cycling after his wife bought him a used mountain bike. After he suffered knee injuries from jogging, he bought a road bike, joined the Team Evergreen Bicycle Club and began to train. Along with his friend Art Field, he made the club's Century Ride in 1992, his first time racking up more than 100 miles in one day.
From 1990 to 1999, Bill rode in Ride the Rockies every year. After his first completion of the Triple Bypass in 1992, he and Art became chair and co-chair for the race, positions they held together for four years, in which the event soared in popularity. Bill and Art then put together an annual Father's Day ride across Colorado and Wyoming.
Another highlight of Bill's life was his and Mollie's golden anniversary party in Mexico.
Mollie preceded him in death in 2003.
Bill then met and spent five years enjoying the companionship of Lyn Hiester.
Bill will be missed by everyone who loved him. He was a rock in our lives, quick to tell us when he disapproved of something and also quick to tell us how much he loved us. During his fight against leukemia, he remained hopeful.
He is survived by a brother, Larry of Cottage Grove, Ore; two daughters, Julie Barker of Jackson Hole, Wyo., and Jill Kirkland of Playa del Carmen, Mexico; a son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Deborah Bedford of Jackson Hole, Wyo.; and four grandchildren, William Kirkland, Jeff and Avery Bedford, and Michael Barker. He is also survived by his close companion, Lyn Hiester of Littleton.
A memorial gathering for Bill's friends and family was held this week at his home. His ashes will be sprinkled next summer on the family island in Oregon.
From Canyon Courier in Evergreen CO on 18 Aug 2009.
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