Samuel Williams

Samuel Fredrick Williams passed away peacefully with his soulmate and wife Gina Williams by his side on January 30^th, 2024. Sam was born on May 28^th,1957 in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Nell and Joe Williams. Sam spent his childhood in the great outdoors of the Stanley Basin, exploring, hunting, and fishing with his parents, siblings, and extended family.  Sam loved the outdoors and adventure and that love carried throughout his life.

As a teenager, Sam’s family moved from Stanley, Idaho to Hamilton, Montana in 1965, and then to Salmon, Idaho in 1973. Sam loved spending time with his brother Rob. They were known to have a good time after putting in a hard day’s work. They never had a shortage of friends to cause trouble with. After moving to Salmon, Sam had a brief marriage that gave him three children that he absolutely loved and adored, Shawn, Angie, and Ryan. Sam was always very proud of his children.

In 1991 Sam married the love of his life Gina Williams in Salmon, Idaho. Sam and Gina had many memorable times with friends and family during their time together. They went on many adventures and traveled to numerous places together. Most notably, Antarctica. Sam was very fond of his time spent working in Antarctica as a blaster. He assisted scientists with recovery of rare fossils and collection of ice cores. He even escaped death when his loader fell through the ice and sank. Sam worked for decades as a blaster and heavy equipment operator travelling across the Western US and Alaska with Gina usually by his side, until settling down in Stevensville, Montana in 2014. Gina was very devoted to Sam, and she spent much time and effort making sure Sam was comfortable as his health declined. Gina always stood by Sam’s side, even in the most difficult of times. Sam was very grateful for Gina and her love.

Sam loved life and lived life to the fullest. He was a very skilled outdoorsman, blaster, heavy equipment operator, woodworker, model maker, comedian, storyteller, Harley aficionado, all-around tinkerer, and friend. Sam worked hard and his family is proud of all he accomplished in his lifetime. Sam worked on many largescale environmental clean-ups such as the Milltown Dam removal and North Platte River restoration. Sam also had a hand in building the ski jump for the 2002 Winter Olympics, a golf course in Wyoming, a few whitewater kayak courses in Montana and Wyoming, and other numerous unique projects. Sam had a big impact on the world and on the people who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Sam is survived by his wife Gina Williams, his children Shawn Williams, Angie Williams (Madeline), Ryan Williams, his grandchildren Kloey Williams and Ryan Williams, his siblings Joe Williams, Rob Williams (Carol), and Cindy Williams-Stinson (Bernard), and his nieces and nephews Heather Angel-Banuelos (Salvador), Shannon Williams-Ockerman, Amanda Williams-Cunningham, and Shaddock Bashline (Pamalla).

Sam is preceded in death by his parents Nell Williams and Joe Williams, his brothers Guy Shannon and Dave Williams, his brother-in-law Jack Minton (Joe), and his daughter-in-law Hollie Johnson (Ryan).