Norval William “Bill” Alleman was born October 21, 1929, and passed away July 27, 2020, after fighting Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome caused by COVID-19. He was 90 years old.
Bill was born in Kemmerer, the first of four children to Norval Whipple and Bea Alleman. Bill’s siblings are “Peggy”, Dan, and Patricia. Bill loved telling stories about growing up in Wyoming and especially in Jackson Hole. His favorite stories included adventures involving his horse, his pet magpie, and his guns. He enjoyed playing football, basketball and doing track in high school.
He was sent to Kemper Military School, in Boonville, Missouri, as a teenager. This evolved into a career with the Army that began in 1947 and ended in 1972. He had the time he served memorized down to the day and liked to say that he served for 24 years, six months, 20 days.
Bill married Barbara Brandel on June 21, 1956 and this union culminated in eight children: Norval William, Robert Brian (d. 1959), Richard Bret, Alan Bren, George Bennet, Brenda Sue, Bethany Renee, and Rebecca Bea. Bill liked to brag that he had five boys and then three girls just to prove that he could.
After the military, Bill worked in the insurance field and had an insurance business in New York state. Bill and Barbara later divorced. Bill then returned to Idaho to be closer to his parents.
Bill met a sweet young thing (with five children of her own) when he was assigned as her home teacher. In 1990, they were married. His children now included: Eric R., Jaren L., Zachary P., Amanda Buffie, and Cassie Anne. Altogether Bill and Ruth Anne have 12 living children.
Bill enjoyed a love of bowling and was always in a bowling league, he loved eating McDonald’s food, vanilla ice cream, M&M’s, and chocolate chip cookies. He was a meat and potatoes man who always cooked roasts on Sunday and all were welcome to join for Sunday dinner. He served the youth as a Boy Scout leader and seminary teacher. He took up woodcarving and won a blue and white ribbon for his designs.
He and Ruth Anne spent their time together by serving missions, bowling, playing in the Snake River New Horizons Band (he played the electric bass guitar), spoiling grandchildren, and otherwise getting into mischief.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Norval Whipple and Bea Alleman; his siblings, Margaret Peggy Sargent, Charles Daniel Alleman, and Patricia Hankins; and his son Robert Brian.
He is survived by his loving wife, Ruth Anne; and children, Norval “Bill” William (Dianne) Alleman, Richard “Bret” Alleman, Allen “Bren” (Kelly) Alleman, George Bennett “Benny” (Lynette) Alleman, Brenda Sue (James) McFadden, Bethany Renee Meaux, Rebecca Bea Alleman-Jones, Eric R. (Penny) LeFevre, Jaren L. LeFevre, Zachary P. (Kim) LeFevre, Amanda Buffie (Charles) Wolz, and Cassie Anne (Kris) Casias. He has 45 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.
He would like us to remind everyone to keep their bowling arm in shape, “cats are yuck,” and always have chocolate chip cookies and vanilla ice cream on hand.
Services were held with a viewing on July 30 from 4-7 p.m. at Downard Funeral Home at 241 N. Garfield Ave., Pocatello, Idaho and the funeral was on Friday, July 31 at 11 a.m. at the Chubbuck Stake Center, 450 James Ave. in Chubbuck, Idaho. Masks were required for both the viewing and funeral. He was buried in the Pleasantview, Idaho, cemetery.
The funeral was broadcast by Downard Funeral Home for those who cannot attend. Call 208-233-0686 to get the link to view the saved videos.
