William “Bill” Stokes Grainger was born June 5, 1939 to Clela June Stokes and Curtis Edward Grainger; and passed away December 15, 2020 at the age of 81 from natural causes at Paramount Health and Rehab in Salt Lake City.
The oldest of his mother’s fourteen children, Bill followed his mother to Mexico and Short Creek. He was a good seamstress and took in sewing to help support the family. He enjoyed rock climbing and fruit picking. At age 14, Bill left Short Creek and moved in with his Aunt Francis in Salt Lake where he found work washing dishes. In the years that followed, he held several jobs including custodian at the University of Utah.
In 1968, Bill married Beatrice “Bernice” Allred Milburn and had six children: William “Guy”, Susan “Susie”, Mary Ann, Clarence (died at birth), Bernice Guinevere “Gwen”, and Robert. Resourceful and hardworking, Bill helped Aunt May collect empty pop bottles from the movie theater and returned them for deposit. The Reclaim Bottle Company evolved into the Reclaim Barrel Supply Company where Bill trucked damaged barrels to their West Jordan residence where barrels were restored and sold back to the manufacturer. Bill also raised cows on his South Jordan farm. Bernice and Bill later divorced.
In 1985, Bill married Kathelene Stratton and together they had Alma and Ruth.
Bill’s main focus was his Heavenly Father and the Church of Jesus Christ. He moved to Vance Springs in an effort to live the United Order before settling in West Valley City. He lived humbly yet helped feed the hungry and gave generously to loved ones he desired to bless and to those in need. He anxiously looked forward to attending church services and socializing with his church community and did so faithfully. The past year had been particularly trying to him when he was restricted from leaving the nursing home due to Covid, and he frequently asked when he could go to church again.
Survived by children; siblings: James “Jim” Grainger, David Allen Cook, Colleen June Cook, Nelda Johnson, Owen Asael Johnson, June Johnson, Clela Johnson, Ila Johnson, Elmer LeRoy Johnson, Glen Marion Johnson, and Guy William Johnson; and many half siblings and extended family; 16 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren.
Preceded in death by parents; wife, Kathelene; son, Clarence; siblings, Beth Louise Cook, Verl Merlin Johnson, and Rudger Carl Johnson.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 23, 11:00 AM at Larkin Mortuary - Riverton, 3688 West 12600 South, Riverton, UT with a viewing 9:30-10:30 AM prior to services and Tuesday, December 22, from 6:00-8:00 PM. Interment Elysian Burial Gardens, 1075 East 4580 South, Millcreek.
To view the service please visit: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83830939254?pwd=SzRwc3J5MTdLdTMyV1JyQ0FDeEdHUT09