WILLIAM ALLEN (BILL) KIELTY
August 5, 1927 – May 20, 2017
Bill was born in St. Regis, Montana; a place he considered God's Country. He was the first of three
children born to Maynard and Olive Kielty. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Frank
and sister, Nadine, also first wife Shirley, infant son, Michael, and stepson, Morris Melang.
Bill joined the Navy in 1945 and served aboard the USS Henrico (APA-45) Flagship 3rd Amphibious
Group which was the flagship at the time the Atomic Bomb tests "ABLE (July 1, 1946) and "BAKER"
(July 25, 1946) were conducted at Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands. He was honorably discharged from
the Navy in 1947.
Bill married Shirley Irene Klinger in 1947. They had three sons and one daughter. Infant son, Michael
preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Leola, sons, Maynard (Laurie) and Mark (Karen)
Kielty, and daughter Melanie Sue (Michael) Keyes, and step daughter, Leslie Rae (Jim) Oosterwyk.
Also surviving are 11 adoring grandchildren, 22 loving great grandchildren, and two great, great
granddaughters. Two new great grandchildren are expected in June; a boy to Kilea and Vig and a girl
to Amanda and Shay. Being "Grandpa" was Bill's happiest times. Additionally, Bill leaves three
nieces and one nephew.
Bill was always an outdoors man and started working for the Forest Service as a teenager delivering
supplies to men on fire lookout stations in Western Montana. He loaded a string of mules and camped
along the way as he delivered supplies to various mountain lookouts. After he and Shirley were
married, Bill worked as a heavy equipment operator in California and later in Washington. Bill often
mentioned that he cleared acres of orange trees from the property that became Disneyland. He ended
his career as superintendent of some very large jobs.
Friends will always remember Bill for his ability to tell stories of his earlier life in Western Montana
where, during the 1930s, he had many interesting and exciting adventures. He loved life and looked
forward to each day with a song in his heart and on his lips. His favorite was "How Great Thou Art".
Bill married Leola Giroux Melang in 1976 and the two families were happily blended. On June 6,
2017 the marriage will have been a 41 year love affair.
In 1988 Bill and Leola vacationed in Belize, Central America, and returned each year for 26 years. Bill
was an avid fly fisherman and it was fish that brought them to Belize but it was friends who became
family who brought them back each year.
Bill loved the Lord and cared deeply for his family and friends and now he is in Heaven, free from a
body that had worn out.
A graveside service will be held at the Arlington Cemetery at 11 am, Saturday, June 3. Followed by a
life celebration/memorial at Arlington Free Methodist Church at 730 E Highland Dr., Arlington, WA. At 12:30 P.M.
Bill would want any memorial donations to go to Life House Ministries, 8825 34th Ave. NE, #L-179,
Marysville, WA 98271, a non-profit serving vulnerable women and children.
Arrangements under the direction of Gilbertson Funeral home, Stanwood.