Billie Edward Manning

Billie (Bill) Edward Manning was born in Stroud, Oklahoma on the Choctaw Indian Reservation on May 26, 1930 to parents, Benjamin and Alice Roden Manning. His family was part of the “Grapes of Wrath” movement from Oklahoma to western United States in 1934, with the ultimate destination for the Manning/Roden families being southern Idaho. His childhood was on a 15,000-acre ranch, 80 miles from the closest town.

Bill dedicated his life to his Lord while attending high school in Grand View, Idaho in 1948 and after graduating, attended theology school at the University of Oregon in Eugene. He was then drafted into the Army, and spent four and a half years in Korea.

Upon returning to civilian life, Bill had achievements and accomplishments that could have filled many lifetimes: Eleven years as an Idaho state trooper; fifteen years as a Formula One race car driver (thirteen of those after being declared dead in an accident at the Indianapolis Speedway, only to be detoured to the hospital when the hearse attendant detected a heartbeat); twenty-eight years as a driver and transportation coordinator for movie studios. He retired in 1999 from Teamsters 399 and returned to his religious studies. He obtained his Pastoral Commission from Fuller Seminary in May 2010, two weeks before his 80th birthday! His memoirs are named "One Last Dream Fulfilled."

Throughout these many professions, he maintained his passion for fast-draw and shotgun shooting competitions and was named number one in championship several times.

Bill married Betty Perkins in 1950 who gave him four children, Patricia, Douglas, Gregory and Ronald. In 1969, he married Judy Thomas whose son Jeff Latimer became Bill’s son along with two adopted children, Michelle and Michael. Bill and Andrea Mirras met in 1989, married on June 14, 1991, and she survives him as his wife. Bill always believed the third time's the charm.

Together, Bill and Andrea’s blended families have eleven children, twenty-three grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, who are in the original Manning family lineage. There are many others whom they are Mom/Grandma and Pops/Grandpa to.

Bill lived his 89 years filled with love, adventure, and many, many stories, and now rests with his Lord and Savior.