Willard M. "Bill" Prouty
Updated: Sep 16
Willard M (Bill) Prouty died peacefully on September 12. He was born on September 16, 1932 in Miles City MT, the last of 9 children of Paul and Pearl Prouty.
Bill spent his early childhood in Miles City, then went to elementary school in Spokane and Junior High in Juneau, AK. He then moved to Great Falls, MT to attend high school, where he was a star sprinter and football halfback, becoming widely known as the “Juneau Jackrabbit.” He also met his future bride, Vern Swenson, at Great Falls High School. They were married for 73 years.
Bill attended The College of Wooster, in Wooster Ohio. He returned to Great Falls the summer after his junior year there, in order to marry Vern. They both fondly remembered spending their honeymoon in a wildfire lookout tower on Porphyry Peak in Montana. Bill and Vern returned to Ohio for one more year at Wooster, before moving to Chicago, where Bill attended graduate school at the University of Chicago Theological Seminary. As he neared the end of his studies, however, Bill became disillusioned with the ministry and turned to mechanical engineering as an alternative career path.
In 1960, Bill and Vern moved to Spokane, Washington, with their two sons, Lee Jon and Mark Douglas. Bill worked as a draftsman for Link-Belt and later as a mechanical engineer for Kaiser Aluminum. He then worked for several years at Pacific Gas Transmission, followed by Aluminum Supply Company—later ASC Industries—where he advanced to lead the engineering department in designing aluminum roll-forming equipment.
Bill and Vern made their home on the South Hill in Spokane for many years, until, making use of their design skills and concern for the environment, he and Vern built an earth-sheltered home south of Spokane. Bill was an avid tennis player, who enjoyed playing at Hart field, Ferris High School, Central Park Racquet Club, and Spokane Racquet club. Bill was active in the Spokane Alliance, and he and Vern were also deeply involved in the Unitarian Church of Spokane. Through those activities, Bill maintained innumerable close friendships for decades.
Bill and Vern have lived at the Rockwood Community since 2014. He has continued his tennis and church friendships there, as well as building many other close relationships with neighbors and others in the community. He is fondly remembered by all for his intellectual curiosity, love of reading and learning, and genuine interest in and concern for others.
A service celebrating Bill’s life will be held on October 14 at 1:30 PM, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane, 4340 W. Whistalks Way.
Bill was a fine tennis player. I enjoyed his company on the court as both a doubles partner and as an opponent - he was genuinely a good sportsman. I was a USTA Team Captain for many years and Bill was a member of my team, Net Threat, in 2004. The team went 8-4 and made the Area Playoffs. Bill, with 3 different partners, went 7-3. He was a reliable, consistent and competitive teammate - just what a Captain treasures. Always with a smile that could light up the room. I'll miss that. Game, Set and Match to you, Bill. Well played!