William Wellborn

William Roscoe Wellborn (Bill) passed away June 12, 2014.  He was born in the Johnson Gulch area of Medicine Lodge on the homestead of his parents Hattie B. and Rela A. Wellborn on August 13, 1927.  He grew up on Medicine Lodge and Horse Prairie, Armstead, and the Young Place near Dell.  He attended school in Armstead and graduated from Lima High School in 1944.  He was drafted into the Army in November 1945 and attended basic training in California and was based in Massachusetts and Florida as an airplane mechanic.  He was honorably discharged in November 1946 and rode a train back to Armstead.  He worked on area ranches, hunted, and mined with his family.  He married Helen Meeds on September 25, 1954.  They worked and lived on the Cross Ranch and then moved into their house in Grant that was the old general store they remodeled themselves.   Helen and Bill worked side by side cutting timber and ranching on Horse Prairie and raising their two girls, Debra and Virginia.  The girls were instilled with a love of their lifestyle and were included in every venture and adventure; there are an untold number of creeks they were packed across so they could go fishing with their parents.  They retired from the timber when Bill was afflicted with Parkinson's disease in 2004.  They built their own house from their own timber on their current home place.  Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapping, and was the chief fish-fryer on many family fishing and camping trips.  He taught his three grandsons; Matt, Billy and Danny how to fish and enjoyed being around little kids.  Bill took part in all the ranch work while he could get in his tractor.  He was cared for by his family at his home until he passed away.  He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters; Grace and June.  He is survived by his wife Helen, daughters and sons-in-law; Debbie Melle (Richard), Virginia Hill (Dan), grandsons; Matthew (Renee), Billy and Dan Melle, brothers; Ned (DeEsta) and David sister; Nell Unruh (Elmer) brothers-in-law and sister-in-law; Carl, Glen (Janeal) Albert (Judy) Meeds and Louise Hager and many nieces and nephews.  Cremation has taken place and no services are planned.  Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.