William (Bill) Slaughter, age 59 of Ely, MN passed in peace Saturday May 7th with family by his side in Alexandria, MN.
Bill was born and raised in Ely, MN and is where he spent most of his life. He has the northland in his blood and was able to take his favorite things; fishing, hunting, camping and dog sledding and turn it into a successful career with Bill Slaughter’s Northwoods Guide Service for over 25 years.
Before starting a guide service, Bill proudly served in the United States Army and National Guard. Bill enjoyed serving in Ely’s Honor Guard and showing his respect to our active and retired military along with paying his respect to lost soldiers.
You would never find Bill without one of his four legged friends. He has had several dogs throughout his years and some of them had some interesting names that were the result of poker nights with the boys. On top of his love for the good old Labrador retriever and yes even French Bulldogs; Bill also had several sled dogs. Even though sled dogs are normally seen as working dogs, anyone who knows Bill will tell you those dogs were family to him. There were countless times you would find Bill on his hands and knees rolling around with them playing in the dog yard or even bringing them into the house for a night.
Bill’s greatest loves and biggest pride came from his wife and two daughters though. Bill was married to his loving wife Laurie for 24 years and together they raised two daughters, Mary and Samantha. Bill could be seen as a true man’s man but not when it came to his girls and let me tell you they all gave him a run for his money and tested his patience. The thing is Bill wouldn’t have had it any other way and there isn’t a thing he wouldn’t do for any of them, and he showed that in everything he did.
Bill valued “old school” traditions and manners and carried that to his children and grandchildren. You would never catch Bill with a hat on at the table when it was mealtime, and he would make sure everyone else has theirs removed too. Bill would always thank you kindly and give the best “you betcha” that I have ever heard.
Bill will be greatly missed by his family and friends. His wife and daughters promised to carry out his values and favorite hobbies like fishing, hunting and mushing dogs to his three grandchildren. This promise comes with a request for volunteers in all these things he loved because us girls were pretty dependent on him always putting the bait on our line, cleaning the fish and cooking one hell of a fish fry when it was all done.
A celebration of life will be scheduled for a later date in Ely, MN this summer.
Bill is survived by his wife Laura Slaughter of Alexandria, MN; daughters Mary (Bill) Proznik of Eau Claire, WI, Samantha (Zach) Barton of Ely, MN; sister Rose (Daniel) Johnson; brothers Mike Slaughter, Scott Slaughter, John Slaughter of Denver; Grandchildren Olivia Proznik, Ava Proznik and Bruce Barton along with lots of lifelong friends
Bill is preceded in death by his father Claude Slaughter, mother Sylvia Slaughter, great-grandson Owen Proznik and several four-legged companions.