EIKER, William L., age 82 of Helena passed away on March 20, 2024.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Bill Everett says
I could never express what Eiker did and meant for me from age 2 to 52. All I can say is thank you for the lessons, the love, and the memories. Damn I’m going to miss you Billy Everett
Kurt Jenewein says
Mr Eiker was my math teacher at Helena High in the 70’s. I learned my love of math from him. He explained it so well. Rest in peace Mr. Eiker. My condolences to his family.
Tom/Judy Rolfe says
We are saddened to learn of Bill’s passing. He was a wonderful, principled man who we greatly respected. Our sincere sympathy to Becky at this difficult time. Helena is a better place because of Bill and Becky Eiker.
Doris Romanisko says
My sincere condolences. Bill was always so supportive during my time at St Petes Foundation. He would drop Becky’s beautiful bronzes for our galas and visit for a short time to discuss the other art. Both the Eikers contributed immensely to our community.
Sandy McDuffie says
The memories I have heard Bill and Bart talk about. You two have done some serious hunting over the years. I always enjoyed stopping in to visit Bill and Becky. He loved his football team the lions. Our condolences to Becky. Bill will be missed
Aaron Strong says
He was a wonderful teacher at Helena High. Gonna miss you my old sophomore math teacher.
Arlene Flynn says
Bill was the epitome of a gentleman…honorable, courteous, polite, generous and with a tremendous love for Becky. What a loss for our community. My deepest condolences to Becky and the rest of the family.
Steve Armstrong says
I was a colleague of Bill’s at Helena High from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. When I first arrived at HHS, Bill was among the first faculty members to be welcoming. He invited me to participate in a Student Council retreat at McDonald Pass as a facilitator for group discussions and activities. As others have said, Bill was kind and compassionate to his students. My late wife and I saw Bill a few times after we left Helena. He was gracious and welcoming in our conversations. I still have some of Becky’s sculptures as well! Sympathies to Becky and the Eiker family.
JOHN POPPE says
Mr. Eiker, (Bill) Was My Sophmore Geometry Teacher, In 1977-78, A Great Teacher! I Would Run Into Him Around Helena Years Later, Always Remembered Me And Always Smiling. THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU ALL!
Joseph Bower says
I met Bill as a customer, and we soon became friends. As many can tell you, Bill had a knack for adventure, whether hunting or on the water. Bill welcomed a challenge, our float trip on the Dearborn River during runoff will always be remembered. From bull snakes, wrecked canoe, soaking wet in May, to walking out missing a shoe, he relished that trip.
Bill knew where to ice fish, i always wondered if it was his bright orange jumpsuit that attracted the limit of fish we always caught. He made his own jigs, and they worked.
Even though Bill was a career teacher, he also was eager to become a student if he needed to learn from his circle of advisors and friends.
I feel fortunate to have spent time with Bill professionally and as a friend. Our condolences go out to Becky .
Terry Beaver says
Bill and I taught together for our entire 37 year careers at Helena High School. Many with whom we taught have preceded Bill in death but a few of us linger on. I’ll not try to list those in either category, but if you read this we’ll presume you to be among those in the later.
To be one seated at the “select” table in the faculty room was an honor to be earned. Jack Cohn was the “Big Daddy” and ultimate decider who would be seated. Bill made an un-knowingly mistake in his first week of his first year in HHS, he seated himself at the table and was personally admonished and relegated to a seat on the perimeter. To say the least, Bill didn’t take it well, it took a long time to earn the respect of Jack and those seated at the table.
Bill’s expertise in the classroom was much later expressed by our most respected principal, Homer Loucks, when he stated that “Eiker was a good one”. Jack then softened but it was not enough. Bill was determined to become a “Montanan’ “and not that stereotypically mid westerner. His fishing endeavors compared favorably with the expertise of Frank Aldrich and Mike Logan. His hunting success equaled those of Dick Kinzer and Jack himself. It was then that Jack invited Bill to the “table”. It was a hard earned achievement but respected by the power of those at the table, Bill Bausch and Dave Foster approved. Bill was then one of us.
My experiences with Bill were innumerable, some fun – some scary – some illegal – but always involved beer – 4-wheel drive – and unexpected and unique endeavors. Too many fish, too many elk, buying a horse in the Toston bar for salami to go with the pig that cohort, Bill Everett had acquired, all illegally or approaching such and was par for every outing.
My wife, Patty, cringed every time Bill and I left the house, but seemed to know that Bill would return me but with another experience that we would not talk about.
Bill Eiker was a friend and colleague who I respected and admired. If I were still a drinking man I’d tip another at “Haps” for Bill as we were known to do.
It was one hell of a ride !!!!
So long my friend. Patty and I will continue to be friends with Becky in her new digs.
Bill Hunthausen says
Bill Eiker was an awesome math teacher! He was gifted in so many ways as evidenced by the manner in which he humbly shared his knowledge, patience and kindness to all who entered his classroom. To say the least, I was truly blessed to have him as a teacher in my Junior and Senior years (1971 and 1972) at Helena High. Every Monday he would start class by sharing his weekend adventures usually involving floating, fishing or hunting. Another fun memory was the time he invited a bunch of his students to his home for an elk burger barbeque fest-yes delicious. Thank you Mr. Eiker for being part of my life.
Carl Rostad says
Nobody loved the Montana outdoors more than Bill. He was a great friend of my family and always had time to go fishing or hunting with me. Always patient. Always friendly. Not enough like him in the world and he will be missed.
Joelle Thirsk Fathi says
When no one else believed in me and my academic abilities, Mr. Eiker did. His kind and patient approach and belief in me germinated a safe place and the confidence to succeed. I will be forever grateful to Mr. Eiker for his kindness and generosity of his time to support me in my learning journey at such a pivotal and impressionable time in my. My success is because of amazing teachers and humans like Bill Eiker. God Bless Bill and his family, Sincerely, Joelle