William "Bill" Dale Montgomery

William Dale "Bill" Montgomery passed away on September 27, 2025 at the Springs Footsteps Memory Care in Happy Valley, Oregon.

He was born to Robert A. Montgomery and Irma C. Macy on July 15, 1941 in Portland, Oregon. Both were pioneer families arriving on the Oregon Trail. He lived most of his early years in Aloha, Oregon but also lived in Bend, Pendleton, Portland, San Francisco, and finally, Milwaukie. He graduated from Milwaukie High School with the class of 1959. He was runner up for appointment to Annapolis Naval Academy his senior year. He spent a year at California Maritime Academy but discovered that maritime career opportunities were limited, so he took advantage of a scholarship with the Navy Reserve Officer Training (NROTC) at Oregon State University. While there, he was ordered to attend a formal ball. His roommate claimed to know a girl he might like to take -- and she was short enough for him. So, after some investigation, she passed muster. He and Jean Ostrom were married 18 months later. Bill passed away a day before their 63rd wedding anniversary. Things did work out.

Bill realized he needed to finish his college degree, so he took a job with Pacific NW Bell running computers at night and attending classes at Portland State during the day. He earned a Bachelors of Science in sociology in 1968. He became interested in computer programming and began his career in IT. He progressed on to system analyst, program manager, marketing manager, and vice president. He worked at Georgia Pacific, Kaiser Permanente, Alpine Data Systems, AMI, and The Corum Group, along with various other companies. He finished his career with Corum dealing with mergers and acquisitions. He traveled extensively for work and visited nearly every state in the union.

Bill and his family settled in Gresham, Oregon in 1969. While residing there he volunteered his time with Gresham Little League and Cub Scout Troop 664. He was Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 607. He began racing his sailboats on the Columbia River and took flying lessons during this time. The family enjoyed backpacking and hiking, camping, and college sporting events. In the early 1980s after living in the Seattle area for five years they relocated to Beaverton, then back to Gresham, on to Fairview, back to Gresham, on to Madras, Sublimity, and Independence before moving to Happy Valley in 2023. They became expert packers! While residing in Madras, he served as a member of the city council and represented Madras on the Economic Development Council of Central Oregon. He and Jean became partners in a small art gallery (Studio on 5th). He was a talented artist, an award-winning wood carver, an avid reader, and he loved music, his boats, and his dogs.

He is survived by his wife, Jean, and sons Christopher (Janet) of Clackamas and Patrick of Gresham. His grandchildren are Samuel J (Cesilia), Matthew D. (Jackie), Maxwell D., and Alison J. (Britton), and his great-grandson is Emmitt Alexander. Also surviving is his brother Robert S. (Tammy), and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents Bob and Irma and his sister Gale Ann (Pugh).

The family will perform a private ceremony at sea. A Celebration of Life is planned at The Springs at Happy Valley on November 23rd from 1-5pm.

If you would like to honor Bill's memory, please consider a contribution in his name to the Oregon State University Foundation or an animal shelter of your choice.

Please feel welcome to share your memories, condolences, and cherished photos on this page to be enjoyed by William's family and all who loved him.