William Roger "Bill" Thompson

April 01, 1929 - September 09, 2012

William Roger "Bill" Thompson Obituary (Age 83) William Roger (Bill) Thompson passed away on September 9, 2012 in the Spokane Valley following a long battle with congestive heart failure. He leaves his two daughters, Patricia Jones (Biff) and Kristy Rattray (George); his brother Kenneth Thompson and sister Joan Woodbury; grandchildren Catherine Higgins, Tara Rattray, Erika Rattray and Michael Rattray and many lifelong friends. He was born in Chester, MT on April 1, 1929 but moved to Spokane at an early age. He attended North Central High School and joined the US Army Transport at the age of 17. Bill served on the "US Fred C. Ainsworth", until the end of the war. In 1950 he married the love of his life, Viola Silvia Pistorius. In 1957 he went to work at Kaiser Aluminum where he became a Local 338's officer. He held the office of president for three consecutive terms. He retired from Kaiser in 1978. Bill then went to work for the United Steel Workers of America as a Union representative and organizer. In 1987 he became Sub District Director of District #7 and #38. He retired from the Steelworkers in 1992. He became a highly respected negotiator and arbitrator, rarely failing to achieve his objective. Bill had a wonderful sense of humor and often shared his humor by playing practical jokes on many of his unsuspecting friends and relatives. He was a big man both in size and generosity. He was proud to be an American and a lifelong democrat. He never voted for a republican and never owned a foreign built car. He lived and breathed Union and supported all it stands for. Bill enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cutthroat pinochle and making up words in Scrabble. He loved Walla Walla sweet onions, a good rare steak, cherries and his dog Cha Cha. He was a great father, loving husband for 60 years, and a good brother. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Lacey Thompson and Elsie (Door) Thompson, wife Viola (Pistorius) Thompson, son Dale Thompson, and brother Jerry Lee Thompson. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, September 22 at 11:00am at Kaiser Aluminum Local 338 Union Hall at 14015 E Trent Ave, Spokane Valley.