William C. 'Sonny' Stotler, 76
William C. “Sonny” Stotler, 76, passed into the Lord’s arms Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, after a two-year battle with brain cancer.
Sonny was born in Port Arthur, Texas, to Edith and Loyal C. Stotler in 1943. He grew up following in his father’s footsteps in commercial construction, in the South Texas Rio Grande Valley. He graduated from Pharr, San Juan, Alamo High School and attended Southwest Texas University and the University of Texas, where he majored in architectural engineering. Upon his father’s failing health, he returned to Pharr, Texas, to run the family’s business, Stotler Construction.
In 1993 he left Texas with thoughts to settle in Alaska, but when he arrived in Montana, he knew his journey was over. With his extensive background in construction he served as a private contracting inspector for large state and federal governmental projects, which included the Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton, Montana, and the planning, development and construction of the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs.
Upon moving to Kalispell in 2005, he married his childhood sweetheart, Yvonne Yaeger from Hebbronville, Texas, and opened Excel Construction. He also began restoring a 1946 Hudson and then a 1954 Chevy truck for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Sonny was a member of the Glacier Street Rod Association. He was the field manager for Rocky Mountain Builders of Whitefish, after which he retired from construction and began restoring classic cars, which had been a lifelong love and kept him busy until his last days.
Sonny lived a fast and wild youth until he accepted Christ and was baptized in 1989 and looked forward to whatever God had planned for him. He was looking forward to heaven, and was an optimistic person, always cheerful, generous and accepting of everyone. His happy smile will be missed.
He is survived by his wife and soulmate, Yvonne; sister, Judy Stotler, her children Claudia Harris, Phillip Layer and Alex Layer of Texas; half sister Ruthie Stotler; stepbrother Larry Stotler of Texas; stepchildren, Ashley Willis, Sam Willis, Micah Shriner and Christopher Segelken; stepgrandchildren, Luke Bangeman, and Keegan Willis of Kalispell and Shannen Willis of Oregon; and many nieces and nephews.
A service of remembrance will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, at Easthaven Baptist Church, in Kalispell. Car guys attending services are encouraged to arrive in their hotrods in tribute to Sonny.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Sonny’s name to Wings Regional Cancer Support, P.O. Box 7852, Kalispell, MT 59904. Friends are encouraged to visit the website www.buffalohillfh.comto leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.