Giffin, William "Bill"

William "Bill" Giffin, 73, of Polson, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008 at St. Luke Nursing Home in Ronan.

Bill was born on April 9, 1935 in Missoula. He graduated from high school in Missoula and worked at the Missoulian, was a bellhop at the Florence Hotel and at Davis Drug Supply during his high school years. Bill furthered his education by taking a correspondence course in printing. He also served in the National Guard.

He married June Anderson and moved to Polson; they later divorced. Bill started working at the Flathead Courier and continued to work there for 13 years. He married Janet Graves Keller and became an instant father to three children; Kathie, Cliff and Kent Keller. A son, David Giffin, was born in 1966.

Bill started his own printing business - The Lake County Press - in Ronan in 1973 and continued to operate it until 1978. He worked for St. Joseph Hospital, Lake County Sheriff Dispatch Dept., Lake County Ambulance, and eventually worked at the City of Polson Street Department. He was superintendent of the Polson Street Department for 12 years. Bill was active in the Polson Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years. He was also a volunteer EMT & Policeman. In 1989, Bill was diagnosed with Parkinson Disease and he retired from the City Street Department.

He is preceded in death by his parents; he is survived by his wife, Janet, of Polson; his children - Kathie Chilcott of Deer Lodge, Mont., Cliff Keller (Cathy) of Pullman, Wash., Kent (Denise) Keller of Ponderay, Idaho, David Giffin of Sand Point, Idaho; his brothers - Richard (Noma) Giffin of Polson and his identical twin Robert A. (Joyce) Giffin of Missoula; his grandchildren - Christie, Tanya, Brian, Dalena, Donovan, Dale, Jessica, Kyla, Brent, and Kindra; his great grandchildren - Kiya, Devine, Brittany, Rico, Shalita, and Christopher; and his great great grandchildren - Jerium and Justus.

Cremation has taken place. A memorial service was held on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. at the Polson Community Church in Polson, with Rev. Richard Widerholdt officiating. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the donor's choice. Condolences to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com