William “Bill” McLean (a.k.a. Pumphandle) August 31, 1945 – October 3, 2024

William “Bill” McLean died October 3, 2024 in St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula due to complications following an ATV accident September 10. 

Bill was born to George and Violet McLean of Philipsburg, Montana on August 31, 1945. He attended schools in Philipsburg and Maxville, leaving school to work on a ranch at the age of 16. At the age of 10, he was tending sheep and training horses for his father.

Bill went on to work in mines and on drill rigs, in sawmills, for the Montana Department of Transportation maintaining roads in Granite County, and in the woods harvesting and hauling logs. He also owned his own business, realizing his dream of becoming a heavy equipment operator.

Bill thought in pictures rather than in words, and his mind often was far ahead of the words he spoke. He had a quick wit and loved to turn words in ways that allowed him to express his sense of humor, play pranks, and win bets. He could picture a completed project in his head and then put it together without using a blueprint or anything written. He crafted many useful objects from metal, starting from tubular steel, strap, and flat iron. Saddle racks, a welding table, a workbench with drawers, and tool hangers are but a few. He also made puzzles out of horseshoes, chains and rings as well as from old metal clothes hangers.

The Montana Department of Transportation still uses a tool Bill invented. He created an implement that could be attached to a bucket or blade to push gravel and debris out from under guardrail. That invention has saved road workers countless hours of manual labor as well as more than a few back injuries.

Many musicians came through Philipsburg when Bill was young, stopping to play music at the Rodeo Bar, which Bill’s parents owned. Bill developed a love of fiddle and guitar music and anything western. He enjoyed socializing with anyone he met, and he carried this trait throughout his entire life. He was someone you could count on to do as he said and who would come quickly if you hollered “Help!”.

Bill married the love of his life, Donna Baker, a ranch girl from Drummond, on September 28, 1968. Ten years later, they were overjoyed to become new parents. Bill was a dedicated father to their son Ched, spending many hours taking care of him, teaching him new things, attending Ched’s school events, taking him places, and just being with him. After Ched married, Bill’s love of children flowed to the grandkids. Some of Bill’s happiest moments in recent years were when Ethan, and then Aislinn, came to stay a while.

Bill was preceded in death by both parents and his sister Clara. He is survived by his wife Donna, his son Ched and daughter-in-law Danielle, his step-granddaughter Cheyenne, his granddaughter Aislinn, and his grandson Ethan as well as relatives and friends too numerous to list.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at the Community Hall & Senior Center in Drummond on Saturday, November 23, at 2 p.m., with refreshments to follow. 

Memorials may be sent to Spokane Shriners Hospital for Children, 911 West 5th Avenue, Spokane, WA 99204 or Pintler Pets Humane Society, P.O. Box 1204, Anaconda, MT 59711.