William (Bill) was born in Logan, Utah, and a child of pioneer ancestry. His father, William, was the housing manager at Utah State University (USU). His close associate was Claude Burtenshaw, the vice president of students. The two fathers were involved in the meeting of their children, Bill and Bonita, who eventually married, and reared eight children.
Bill's interests throughout life have been sports, business, music, family and travel. Active in scouting and exploring in his youth, he also operated a small farming business while in high school. Being involved in the ROTC program in high school and college meant military service would be in his future. Before that, though, a mission to Southern Australia, graduation from USU and an Master of Business Administration degree were accomplished.
After two years in Germany and one in Vietnam, he returned home, became employed in Phoenix, Arizona, as a financial consultant and settled into working, raising a family, holding various church callings and preparing for retirement. From 2012 to 2013 he and his wife, Bonita, served a senior mission to Nauvoo, Illinois. They both can trace back to ancestors who lived there and only a block away from each other. Being guides during the day to various historical sites in Nauvoo and Carthage and performing on stage five nights a week, made for a very busy and diverse mission.
Their home is in Sun City West, Arizona, near most of their family. Bonita and Bill are proud to be included in three generations of missionaries serving in Laie, Hawaii.