Highly respected dairyman and advocate for the Idaho dairy industry Dr. Bill Stouder, DVM, of Buhl, Idaho, ended his 13-month battle with cancer on March 30 and passed away at home at the age of 70. He was born on September 21, 1941, in Huntington Park, California, the son of Russell LaVon and Vera Belle Williams Stouder.
Bill married Charlotte Range on August 26, 1961, in Anaheim, California.
Bill is survived by his wife of 50 years, Charlotte Stouder; three sons, Bruce Stouder of Wendell, Gary (Charleen) Stouder of Wendell and Allan (Tilly) Stouder of Wendell; his brother, Ted (Roberta) Stouder of Hagerman; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Bonnie Stouder; brother, George Stouder, and grandson, Justin Addey.
He attended veterinary school at the University of California – Davis. Following graduation in 1965, he practiced in Artesia, California, before moving in 1967 to Chino, where he was a partner in DairyLand Veterinary Clinic until 1986. He was one of the first cow vets in California to do on-farm embryo transfer.
He moved his veterinary practice from Chino to Wendell and practiced until 2008.
Bill became a leader in Idaho’s dairy industry after forming Stouder Holsteins in Wendell, Idaho, in 1983, pursuing his dream of owning a dairy. With his wife, Charlotte, and sons Gary, Bruce and Allan, they grew the dairy from 200 cows to 2,000. The dairy moved to Jerome, Idaho, in 2005.
Bill’s involvement in and service to the dairy industry was intense and passionate. His legacy will be seen through his strong influence on the proactive positions and policies of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association. He was a very strong supporter of immigration reform, research funding and the yet-to-be-built Idaho National Center for Livestock and Environmental Studies.
Bill received numerous awards, including: Southern Idaho Livestock Hall of Fame (1999), Idaho Dairy Hall of Fame (2004), Idaho Governor’s Award for Excellence in Agriculture (2007) and Edward A. Fiez Distinguished Dairy Herd Improvement Association Service Award (2011).
Bill was on the Idaho Beef Council (nine years), the United Dairymen of Idaho board (12 years), National Dairy Board (six years), the Idaho Holstein Association (six years) and the Dairymen’s Creamery Association board (three years). Bill also served as treasurer of the Living Waters Presbyterian Church (seven years).
In addition, he was a member of the Veterinary Software Group which, in the late 1970s, developed one of the first computer record analysis systems in the country. Bill was also a member of the Academy of Dairy Veterinary Consultants, an organization he helped start in the early 1980s.
After being diagnosed with his third bout with cancer, Bill’s focus turned to his family and special milestones that occurred last summer. Bill attended the weddings of his granddaughters, Trisha and Courtney, and celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with Charlotte.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Living Waters Presbyterian Church Building Fund at 821 E Main St, Wendell, Idaho 83355.
A celebration of Bill’s life was held in April at the Living Waters Presbyterian Church with Pastor Jim Keegan officiating. Interment was in the Wendell Cemetery. PD
— Compiled from tributes submitted by Charlotte Stouder, Demaray Funeral Service and United Dairymen of Idaho .
PHOTO
Stouder fought cancer for more than a year before passing away March 30, 2012. Courtesy photo from Charlotte Stouder.
