William Byron Wilkerson

William Byron Wilkerson, Ph.D. passed away peacefully at his Moroni, Utah home on September 7, 2025, with Janice, his eternal companion and wife of 58 years, by his side.

 Bill was born on December 23, 1941 in Las Vegas to Byron and Mary Wilkerson. He loved the deserts and mountains of the Great Basin, and he lived in Vegas, Reno, Fallon, Gabbs, and Spring Creek, Nevada, as well as Provo, Orem, and Moroni, Utah, with stints in Pennsylvania (graduate school), Germany (two missions), Nauvoo (another mission), and Kentucky (mini-mission).

 His children and children-in-law—Rachel Bailey (Paul), Leonard (Amber), Rodney (Jessy), Katrina Williams (David), Edward (Jessie), Jared (Stacy), Franklin (Jessica), and Sally Rampton (Jeff)—revered him as patient, loving, forgiving, and longsuffering. With a sensitive nature, he encouraged his kids and instilled in them a love of Christ, books, the outdoors, family, music, and service. He taught them all to work hard by example and invitation.

 Bill loved learning. Although he was a doctor of philosophy, he saw the philosophies of men as a distant second to the laws of God, and he never allowed his superior education to make himself feel superior to others. He often humbly quoted scripture and poetry in his efforts to inspire those around him.

 He served others as a lifelong pursuit. He mentored youth, assisted widows, and provided a loving ear to his children and grandchildren. From temples and ranches to single-wide trailers, dirty garages, and dusty backyards, he rarely lacked a smile and encouraging word.

 Bill’s service often involved the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as bishop and branch president, counselor in six bishoprics and branch presidencies, full-time missionary three times (South German Mission, Frankfurt Germany Mission (with Janice), and the Nauvoo Illinois Temple (with Janice)), high councilor, ward mission president, home teacher and minister, and in several other callings.

 A longtime scoutmaster, Bill also led Wood Badge for the Nevada Area Council. He loved the Scout Oath and Law and encouraged everyone to live them. He took Scouts to summer camps in Nevada, California, Utah, and Idaho. A crowning achievement of his life was to receive Scouting’s Silver Beaver award.

 He also loved serving his community as a public schoolteacher (Fallon and Gabbs) an elected schoolboard member (Elko County School District), firefighter and EMT (Gabbs), and columnist (Elko Daily Free Press). An independent thinker and constitutionalist, he advocated for limited government, family as the basic unit of society, and responsible citizens who serve their communities without government coercion. As the son of a veteran, a member of the ROTC, and father and grandfather to several members of the U.S. military, Bill believed in defending freedom in word and deed.

 Bill loved honoring Jesus Christ in temples. While hundreds of miles away in Nevada, he organized temple visits for his family and congregation. Later, he served several years as an ordinance worker in Manti and Nauvoo, where he made several dear friends.

 In addition to his wife and children, Bill is sorely missed by his grandchildren Devan (MaKayla), Cameron, Brock (Cenaida), Ashlyn (Kylan), Jack, Nohl, Eli, Tristen, Kaiden, Braylen, Memphis, Hayde, Cooper, Joanna (Callan), Ayden, Owen, Luke, Micah, Samuel, Joshua, Myles, M’Ree, Eevie, Mason, Noah, Aria, Isaac, and Malachi; and great-grandchildren Sawyer and Hayden.

 “We have been given the power and authority from Christ . . . to do what He would do if He were here. To me that is a fantastic concept that just excites me and drives my life—to do what the Master would do if He were here upon the earth. . . . To me the Gospel is everything because it’s given me all the happiness I have—my family, my wife, my children, and the joy of knowing the Plan of Salvation and what the Lord wants us to do in life.” – Bill Wilkerson (2010 interview)

 Funeral services will be held Monday, September 15, 2025, at the Moroni Stake Center (82 North Center, Moroni, UT) at 10:00 a.m. with visitation starting at 9:00 a.m. Interment in the Moroni City Cemetery.

To Watch Funeral Services Live, Click Here. The Live Zoom Link will Activate at 9:45 a.m. MST prior to services.