{"id":33095,"date":"2026-04-25T07:46:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T13:46:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/?post_type=case&#038;p=33095"},"modified":"2026-04-27T13:14:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T19:14:13","slug":"william-d-bill-kuney-age-92-of-helena","status":"publish","type":"case","link":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/obituaries\/william-d-bill-kuney-age-92-of-helena\/","title":{"rendered":"William D. &#8220;Bill&#8221; Kuney, age 92 of Helena"},"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","class_list":{"0":"post-33095","1":"case","2":"type-case","3":"status-publish","5":"entry","6":"has-post-thumbnail"},"acf":[],"fields":{"first_name":"William","middle_name":"Donald","last_name":"Kuney","date_born":"09\/07\/1933","date_died":"04\/24\/2026","age":"92","city":"Helena","state":"Montana","full_obituary_text":"<div style=\"padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/event\/5897742\/embed\/interaction\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Bill Kuney, a man whose life was defined by adventure, hard work, family, and unforgettable stories, passed away leaving behind a legacy as rich and enduring as the Montana landscapes he loved. Born on September 7, 1933, in his grandparents\u2019 log cabin on Sweeney Creek near Florence, Montana, Bill entered the world surrounded by the strength of family and the rugged beauty of ranch life that would shape him forever.<\/p>\n<p>Raised on the family ranch with his sister Betty, Bill learned the value of hard work early\u2014carrying wood, milking cows, cleaning stalls, and helping with horses long before he was tall enough to carry more than one stick of firewood at a time. Ranch life was demanding, but it built the resilience, humor, and determination that would guide him through every chapter of his life.<\/p>\n<p>In 1955, Bill proudly served in the United States Army, beginning with basic training at Fort Carson, Colorado. Like many of his stories, his military service came with both challenge and humor\u2014from forced marches and powdered green eggs to guided missile training and lessons in perseverance.<\/p>\n<p>After his service, Bill began his professional career with the Montana State Examiner\u2019s Office, where his sharp mind and strong sense of integrity quickly stood out. His work often took him across the state, uncovering financial irregularities and handling difficult investigations, including solving a major embezzlement case that would alter the course of his career.<\/p>\n<p>In 1967, Bill married the love of his life, Lorna Babcock, in an intimate ceremony at the Governor\u2019s Mansion in Helena. Along with Lorna came her daughter, Lee Ann, whom Bill loved as his own. Their family grew with the births of sons Tim and Ralph, and together they built a life centered on love, laughter, and often a little chaos.<\/p>\n<p>Bill\u2019s career shifted into hospitality when he became manager of the Colonial Supper Club and later helped build and operate the Colonial Inn and Conference Center in Helena. Alongside Lorna, he also managed the Outlaw Inn in Kalispell before returning to Helena to become co-owner of the Colonial Inn. His years in hotel management were filled with hard work, colorful stories, and lifelong friendships.<\/p>\n<p>Outside of business, Bill found joy at the Oxbow Ranch, where family gatherings, boating on Holter Lake, fireworks displays, and endless adventures created some of his most treasured memories. Later, he combined his love of Montana\u2019s landscapes with work as a location manager for the Montana Film Office, helping bring film productions to life across the state.<\/p>\n<p>Bill was known for his sharp wit, practical nature, unforgettable storytelling, and his ability to find both humor and lessons in life\u2019s mishaps\u2014from runaway children and antique cameras to fireplaces that smoked and honeymoon misadventures. He believed family stories were the true roots of a family tree, far more meaningful than dates on paper.<\/p>\n<p>Above all else, Bill considered his greatest blessing to be his close family and friends. He and Lorna built a life filled with love, adventure, and deep family bonds that continue through their children, grandchildren, and generations to come.<\/p>\n<p>Bill lived a full and eventful life\u2014one of hard work, loyalty, courage, and laughter. His stories will continue to be told, his lessons remembered, and his presence deeply missed. His was truly a life of adventures.<\/p>\n<p>Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Lena and Harold Kuney.\u00a0 He is survived by his wife Lorna, daughter Lee Ann Ruud (Monte), sons Tim Kuney (Tina), Ralph Kuney, sister Betty Hendrickson, grandchildren Kate, Liz, Jon, Jack, Anna and Lily and great grandchildren Jaina and Clint.<\/p>\n<p>Visitation hours will be from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 28 at the Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home 3750 N. Montana Avenue in Helena. A funeral service in celebration of Bill&#8217;s life will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at funeral home. a reception will follow the funeral service in the social center of the funeral home. Burial with military honors will follow the reception at Forestvale Cemetery in the Helena Valley.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","photo":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/William-D.-Kuney-edit-p.jpg","youtube_video_url":"","service_status":"public","event_title1":"Visitation","event_date1":"2026-04-28","start_time1":"12:00 p.m.","end_time1":"5:00 p.m.","location1":"Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home","address1":"3750 N. Montana Avenue","city1":"Helena","state1":"Montana","zipcode1":"59602","event_title2":"Funeral Service","event_date2":"2026-04-29","start_time2":"11:00 a.m.","end_time2":"","location2":"Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home","address2":"","city2":"","state2":"","zipcode2":"","event_title3":"Reception","event_date3":"2026-04-29","start_time3":"Immediately following the Funeral Service","end_time3":"","location3":"Social Center of the Funeral Home","address3":"","city3":"","state3":"","zipcode3":"","event_title4":"Burial with Military Honors","event_date4":"2026-04-29","start_time4":"Following the reception","end_time4":"","location4":"Forestvale Cemetery","address4":"","city4":"Helena","state4":"Montana","zipcode4":"","event_title5":"","event_date5":"","start_time5":"","end_time5":"","location5":"","address5":"","city5":"","state5":"","zipcode5":"","event_title6":"","event_date":"","start_time6":"","end_time6":"","location6":"","address6":"","city6":"","state6":"","zipcode6":"","event_title7":"","event_date7":"","start_time7":"","end_time7":"","location7":"","address7":"","city7":"","state7":"","zipcode7":"","event_title8":"","event_date8":"","start_time8":"","end_time8":"","location8":"","address8":"","city8":"","state8":"","zipcode8":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case\/33095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/case"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}