Roy Hammer

Bill Hammer, 77, died November 27 at Benefis Hospital after suffering a stroke. A celebration of Bills life is planned for December 2 at 11 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Stanford.Schniders Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Bill was born February 12, 1934 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and moved with his family to Stanford in 1941.He graduated from high school in Stanford and earned a business degree from the University of Montana in 1952, where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.After three years in the U.S. Air Force, he returned to Stanford as a Chevrolet dealer in partnership with his father.He ventured out on a new career as an FBI agent, serving in San Diego, CA. Not wishing to raise his family in Los Angeles where he was assigned after serving in San Diego, he resigned and returned to Stanford and the Chevrolet dealership.In 1987, he closed the dealership and owned and operated Pioneer Hardware.Bill was the mayor of Stanford for many years and active in civic organizations as well as the Presbyterian Church.Bills management style was user friendly. For example, he trusted the honesty of his customers and lent them the key to unlock a storage shed across from the hardware store so they could measure and cut the amount of pipe and hose they needed.His customers also trusted Bills advice on how to solve a hardware or other type of practical problem, which usually began with the phrase Now, here is what a guy should do He allowed many a meal or personal project to be interrupted to go down to his store after hours to help someone in need.Bill also loved the cabin on Dry Wolf near Stanford and spent many hours of his retirement years improving it. He made it a point to always have a project in progress, from cutting firewood, to building outbuildings, and creating fun games for his grandchildren.He will be missed by all whose lives he touched, especially by his family for whom he cared for so lovingly.Bill is survived by his wife of 54 years, Patricia Hammer of Stanford: his sons, Bill Hap (Carol) Hammer of Great Falls, Bob Hammer (Steph Browning) of Stanford; his daughters, Vicki Castellanos of Weston, Florida, and Sally (Travis) Tilleman of Great Falls. He has been blessed with seven grandchildren: Courtney Hammer, Ryan Hammer, Britni (Jason) Hanson, Nick Hammer, Marai Castellanos, Kinzie Tilleman, and Riley Tilleman. He is also survived by his sister, Margaret (Jim) Beadle of Great Falls.Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Loretta Hammer; his daughter-in-law, Pam Hammer and his son-in-law, Dan Castellanos.The Bill Hammer Memorial Fund has been established at the Basin State Bank in Stanford. The fund will be used to purchase fun durable swimming pool equipment for the Stanford Pool, as Bill always lent his support to make sure that the pool was a place for kids to enjoy in the summer.