William Mason Hunter, age 80 years, died February 27, 2021. What an incredible Life’s Arc he created.
Bill lived his early years in White Sulphur Springs, then Helena, graduating from Helena High in 1959. He immediately moved to New York City, for several decades, where he graduated from Design School, danced on Broadway, managed theater in Off-Broadway Box Offices, and made many friends in theater. He then lived for several decades in Los Angeles, helping start ‘The Cake Walk’, which supplied unbelievable decadent cakes to his high-class clients, as well as to the luckier of his friends and family. His artistic talent and aesthetic genius showed in the design work he did there. He also traveled to NYC and Italy collecting religious art and artifacts for the renovation of American Cathedrals. As in other eras of his life, friends made then became an enduring part of his later life. He moved back to Helena, where he and his partner of four decades, Bill Countryman, started The Lemon Tree Interior Design Business.
Bill or Billy, will be remembered for his brio, kindness, generosity, artistic talent, elegance, Basenji dogs, and sense of adventure. Left behind are his daughter, Jennifer Countryman; his granddaughter, Jessica Shatney; and his niece, Lauryn Kvasnicka, all three of whom were objects of his love, fondness, and exuberant playfulness; and by his brother, Mason Brooke Hunter; and by many, many friends, all who feel the loss of his presence in the World. He was preceded in death by his mother, Sadie and father, Dan, who passed in 2003 and 2004. Bill Countryman passed at the age of 93 in 2017.
Services will be held at a later date. Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Bill.
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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meilissa and jeff sherlock says
Brooke, we are so sorry to hear of your brother’s passing. He was a most interesting guy who added so much to those around him. Peace
Tom Erving says
Brooke, my sincere sympathy for the loss of your brother. I remember working with your mom, Sadie, at the old Union Bank, when Bill would come to town and visit her at the bank. He wore a full length fur coat. Also, remember meeting him and Bill again, at the Lemon Tree when he moved back to Helena. He was really quite the guy. He lived a good life.
Your old friend,
Tom Erving
Sri and Andrew says
Brooke, so sorry for your loss. Bill was such a dear friend to our family. We gave so many cherished memories of “the Bills”
Jim & Teri says
Sorry for you loss Brooke. Miss you guys
Steve & Jackie says
Thinking of your family during this time. May you find comfort in the memories.
Steve and Jackie
Candace says
Brooke, sorry for your loss. I first met Bill when he moved to Helena and he was such a kind and generous person. He’ll be in my heart and you will be in my prayers.
donna finstad says
I enjoyed watching Bill and Carol at the dances at the civic center……they were such good dancers.
Bill was a nice person….enjoyed him as a classmate in H.H.S.
Doris copenhaver says
Oh bill the wonderful times we had at our dinner group, and at your many gatherings. To me you were known as the bill and Bill and I was so saddened to hear now that you have crossed over and can once again be with your bill and your mother Sadie a wonderful woman with whom I worked at Union Bank and trust. You will be remembered fondly and missed by many. Fly high my friend and until we meet again I love you both.
Chuck and Lana Anderson says
What an amazing journey Bill had! Even knowing him as long as we did, virtually every time Lana and I got together with “The Bills,” we’d learn of some escapade or adventure or another which these two comics shared some years in the past. Brooke, we are sorry for your loss and hope you find some consolation in the fond memories you’ve no doubt accumulated over the years. The passing of Bill Hunter coincides with the end of an era!
Jeff Lovely says
Brooke and family. I’m sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. What a wonderfully full life Bill lead. So many great memories. God bless you all.
Michael Haykin and Michael Jorgensen says
Michael and Michael love Bill and Bill.
Beverly Gibson says
Gone aare the dinner parties, the picniccccs, the birthday bashes…the fun memories go on. My sympathy to the family and to all his friends.
Lana and Chuck Anderson says
I remember the day and the first conversation I had with Hunter, asking for his help with the St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation Gala almost 30 years ago. With his creative direction and guidance the hospital gala became the most extravagant, elegant, and successful evening event of Helena Montana.
It was during those years our friendship grew, with our enjoying dinner parties, backyard parties, dinners out, boat rides on Holter Lake, (too many to count), and our yearly jaunts to Spokane for Broadway shows and Christmas shopping.
Oh, the times we had!
Thank you, Hunter, for the albums filled and the memories of those treasured years.
Saundra Lowry says
I met Bill Hunter and BIll Countryman through mutual friends and grew so fond of both of them. I was especially smitten with Bill H. and helped him through my work at RMDC. I will miss his smile and his laugh and send my loving thoughts to his family now. I hope your memories will sustain you during this time of sadness……
Jessi Anderson says
What a wonderful tribute. Bill and Bill were a true favorite among my parent’s friends. They brought such grand and interesting stories of places I had never seen. Brio sums it up perfectly. I will never forget their generosity, laughter, and how they treated me as an individual at an age when many were still talking to me as a child, Hunter especially. I am honored and humbled to have counted Bill among my friends.
Sending warm memories to Bill’s family and friends.
carol cooper says
Dear Brooke,
Hearing of Bill’s passing breaks my
Nancy Davis says
Bill was such a bright & beautiful spirit! He was so giving and caring; I always felt lifted up after spending time together. He had a great sense of humor and used that to relay the best stories ever! His love of family, friends and his pets was always evident. I’m so grateful I knew him and Bill. My heart goes out to you Brooke and family.
Karen Flanigan Pealer says
Just now seeing this so Brooke and family I send my sincerest sympathies from one of his many friends from the Kenley Players family. Bill was always a beautiful light.