Bill Northrup was born in Salt Lake City in 1924 to Leah and Harvey Northrup. He was one of six siblings, 3 brothers: Harvey, Dick and Jack; and 2 Sisters Betty and Donna. He remained close to his family throughout their lives.
Bill was an exceptional athlete and outdoorsman throughout his life. He played in baseball leagues, loved to golf, and was playing tennis into his 80’s. He was also an expert fly-fisherman.
He was an all-state football halfback for South High School in early 40’s, and member of their State Championship baseball team when he was chosen by a New York Yankee scout to try out as a professional ball player for their minor league camp in California – a dream of his.
But World War II intervened, and he chose to enter the aircraft mechanics training school at West High to contribute to the war effort. When the draft age was lowered to 18 years, Bill entered the service and was assigned to the Army Air Corp. There he saw action on South Pacific islands of Guadalcanal, New Caledonia and Biak until the end of the war when he was honorably discharged.
Upon his return home he attended and graduated from the University of Utah and remained, along with his family, a staunch supporter throughout his life - often seen in a baseball cap with a big block letter “U” on the front.
In 1947, his brother Harvey invited him on a backpack in the Uinta Mountains. They merely wrapped canned food and provisions in blankets, slung them over their shoulders, and headed into the wilds. Thus, began Bills lifelong passion for backpacking, fly-fishing and the genesis of the term “Top Misery” – a Tongue-in-cheek description of their disdain for the “comforts” and a desire for the raw adventure of the outdoors.
In 1954 Bill married Barbara Evans, his partner for life, and they had 3 kids: Diane, Jim and Katie.
He was the perfect father, always active and happily supporting the family in any way he could. The family enjoyed many great trips throughout the western states in a foldout trailer (aptly named “Top Misery”) and later built a cabin in the Uinta Mountains that served as a family gathering place, a base for their many hiking trips and an ideal retreat for his retirement years.
Bill worked for the Newspaper Agency Corporation first as a salesman and later as the Promotion Manager. His co-workers and colleges loved to work with him – often accompanying him on his numerous activities and adventures.
He loved to tell stories of his epic hiking trips and experiences in World War II. He wrote them up in two memoirs entitled “Backpacking, the Agony and the Ecstasy”, and “World War II and me”.
Anyone who associated with Bill – be it business, family or casual acquaintance – enjoyed and benefited from his personable, affable, personality and many remained friends for life.
To Bill, everyone was a friend, life was to be enjoyed with others, family came first, and adventure was senior to comfort.
He will be dearly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him and enjoy his company.
There will be a brief military tribute ceremony to honor Bill’s service during World War II by the pond at Wasatch Lawn (3401 Highland Drive) at 10:45 am on Thursday, May 6.
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