Willis Monroe "Willie" Bateman

CLINTON ~ Willis Monroe “Willie” Bateman, 95, of Clinton, passed away of natural causes at 11:23 a.m. Monday, July 1, 2024 at Providence St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.

 Born January 25, 1929 in Missoula to Samuel Monroe and Flora Esther (Cummings) Bateman. He married Alice Marie Hiatt on March 28, 1950 in Missoula. She passed away May 9, 2016. Also preceding him in death are his parents; two sons, David and Jesse Bateman; one grandson, Shawn; one sister, Louise Gooden and one brother, “Buzz” Bateman.

 Willie is survived by one daughter, Cheri Carman; two grandsons, Brian and Justin Carman and numerous great-grandchildren.

 He had worked as a laborer at the Bonner Mill for 47 years.

 Willie was very involved with and contributed quite a bit of history and items to the History Center in Bonner. He was the “local historian” and a great source of information for people around Bonner. He also enjoyed knife making and was known to create some beautiful knives, Geology and rockhounding. A self-taught artist, he loved painting landscapes and made furniture for his family out of fallen trees he found in the forests in and around his area. He was also known to be a very good trapper on the Clark Fork River where he knew every creek in that valley, and also trapped in parts of Idaho. Most of all though, Willie was a great father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great great-grandfather who loved being with his family.

 A gathering celebrating Willie’s life will be held starting at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in the Community Room at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home in Missoula.

 Arrangements are under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Homes and Crematory in Missoula.