William Oren "Bill" Bedker

 Celebration of life for William Oren “Bill” Bedker will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 30, 2024 at the Cortez Elks Lodge.

 William Oren “Bill” Bedker was born September 13, 1941 in Garden City, Kan. the son of Francis William “Frank” and Vivian C. (Long) Bedker. He passed away on Friday, August 23, 2024 at his Cortez residence surrounded by his loving family at the age of 82.

William “Bill” Bedker was born in Garden City, KS on Sept 13, 1941, and passed peacefully in his home in Cortez, CO on August 23rd, 2024 surrounded by family.

He spent his childhood in both Garden City and Seattle, WA. His big family spent lots of time together growing up on the farm, playing games and basketball. His love for card games started young and continued throughout his life, he was always calling for a game when family was near.

Bill graduated from High School and joined the Army, where he met the love of his life, his army girl, Sarah, while they both were stationed at Ft. Huachuca, AZ. They were married at Sierra Vista, AZ in 1961.

While stationed at Ft. Lewis WA they had three boys, Dwayne, Doug and Darren. Later moving and settling in Seattle WA where they had the baby of the family Doris.

In Seattle Bill raised and raced pigeons, became an avid bowler and played golf, involving the family. Bill worked construction, masonry and for his father roofing. 

Moving to Cortez, CO, after his parents moved here in 1978, he built their first Colorado home in Arriola. Throughout the years he continued building homes. He built all the Cortez homes they lived in. He enjoyed teaching his kids all the trades he had learned and they went on to do many construction jobs and projects that he was very proud of.

Continuing golfing and bowling in Cortez he won many tournaments and awards. He coached/supported many youth bowlers. He was Secretary of the Men Association and several leagues for many years.

Bill worked as a Maintenance Supervisor for Montezuma County for 30 years, where he met many people, he proudly called friends. After retiring (because of his love for golf) he worked at the Conquistador Golf Course as a Marshall.

The last house they built was in the sub-division named Sierra Vista as it had the same name as the place Bill and Sarah met and fell in love all those years ago.

He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them, his grand-kids and especially spoiling his great-grand kids.

Bill was a big part of many lives and will be greatly missed.

 Surviving Bill are his wife, Sarah Bedker of Cortez; his children, Dwayne Bedker (Janet) of Aurora, Colo., Darren Bedker (Melissa) of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Doris Irvin (Randy) of Cortez; his siblings, Janet Malmstrom (Larry) of Wickenburg, Ariz., Donald Bedker (Carol) of Shoreline, Wash., and Robert Bedker (Cheryl) of Tokeland, Wash.; and by 14 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; by his son, Douglas Bedker; and by his sisters, Margaret Hubbard and Doris Marie Bedker.