William 'Bill' Earl Corder, 86

On Jan. 15, 2025, William Earl Corder, ready to be reunited with his beloved Rosemary, passed away peacefully in his Kellogg home at the age of 86.

Bill was born April 15, 1938, in Shawnee, Okla., to Earl Archie Jones and Stella Mercedes Lowery. After losing Earl in a railroad accident in 1944, the family moved to Kellogg, where his mother remarried Jack Corder, who would later adopt Bill and his brother.

As a Kellogg youth, Bill was a bit of a rascal who, when not getting into trouble, could usually be found on the creeks and rivers with a fishing pole. But his greatest catch was the love of his life, Rosemary Neff.

On Nov. 1, 1955, at 17 years old, Bill enlisted in the United States Air Force, reporting for duty shortly thereafter to begin training as a radar operator. After a long-distance courtship, Bill returned to Kellogg on military leave and married Rosemary. If one were to ask Bill, June 12, 1958, is when his life began.

Bill and Rosemary filled their home with the additional love of two beautiful children, Carla and Jack. As a military family, they had many homes, starting in the Philippines and eventually throughout the United States. During his time, he retrained to become a flight simulator instructor, training pilots in the T-38 Talon. On June 1, 1976, Tech Sgt. Corder, with 20 years of service to his country, retired from the Air Force.

Following his retirement, Bill and Rosemary returned to Idaho to start the next chapter of their lives. After two decades of "Flying High Into the Sun," Bill swapped his flight jacket for a hard hat and diggers, descending thousands of feet underground to begin his second career at the Sunshine Mine.

Bill worked the mine from the pit to the hoist. Ever a champion for the working man, Bill was unabashedly pro-union. Equal parts intellect and scrapper, Bill ascended to the VP of the local Steelworkers union, where he fought for the rights and benefits of those who took their showers after work. 

In 2001, it was time to retire from the 'Shine, but Bill didn't head straight to the dry. Instead, his steady hand and level head would continue to guide the “chippy" on and off for well over another decade, ensuring our miners would have a safe lift to the surface. Finally, in 2015, Bill answered his final bell at the Galena, closed his lunch bucket and retired. A testament to his skill and reputation as a hoistman, Bill would receive unsolicited job offers well after his 80th birthday.

Bill and Rosemary spent the rest of their retirement years together in Kellogg until Rosemary passed away in 2019. Bill never strayed in his devotion to Rosemary. The years that passed were the longest without her, and so, while he lived every moment of his life fully, he patiently longed to reunite with his true love.

The epitome of a Renaissance man, Bill was a pragmatic realist with a big heart and a great sense of humor. He was an avid reader and writer with a talent for poetry. While his health may have faded, his mind never did. Like the knife he carried in his pocket, he was meticulous about maintaining a sharp edge. Bill had kitchen skills. A firm believer that the best meals are shared, he took sustenance from watching others devour his culinary creations. He claimed to be shy but loved people and readily engaged with every passing soul. He was passionate about what he believed in and committed to those he loved most. Bill was an enigma. For all of his complexities, a simple afternoon at the bowling alley with Rosemary, a couple of friends and a few frosty glasses were among his most cherished times. His integrity, loyalty and blunt honesty won him the respect, love and admiration of all who knew him. Bill is greatly missed.

Survivors include his daughter, Carla E. Beehner of Kellogg; brother Robert; three granddaughters, Brandy Thanos (Anchorage, Alaska), Danielle Fitzsimmons (Osburn) and Misty Sanders (Albuquerque, N.M.), and three great-grandchildren, Ryan and Jacob Glenn, and Charlotte “Charlie” Sanders. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Rosemary, and his son, Jack A. Corder.

Interment and a memorial service will be announced at a later date. 

Memories of Bill and messages of condolence may be shared with his family online at www.shoshonefuneralservice.com. Shoshone Funeral Services, Kellogg, is assisting the Corder family with arrangements.