Bill Sapa’s life celebrated, part of Congressional Record

A crowd of about 1,000 attended a celebration of life for Bill Sapa Saturday at the Columbia Falls High School.

In addition to family and friends, Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke also spoke about Sapa, who was a longtime friend of the Zinkes.

Zinke recognized Sapa on the House floor earlier in the week, noting Sapa’s untimely death as part of the Congressional Record.

“Billy was the kind of guy every small town needs. He was the owner and operator of the Blue Moon Nite Club — a local restaurant and watering hole previously owned by his parents. He was the dedicated head coach of the Columbia Falls High School Wildcats baseball team, operated his multi-generational family farm, host of the summer rodeo series, and I am proud to say he was my friend.

“While Billy is known for his sense of humor and loyalty to his people, he wasn’t known as one to brag, which is why it came as a surprise to many in the Flathead Valley that Billy was signed by the New York Yankees after college. He was in his first year as a pitcher and the world was his oyster. He could have done anything, a hardworking kid from a small Montana timber and manufacturing town. It was a tragic twist of fate that brought Billy back to the valley to take care of his family and led him to a life of building our little community

“Billy was a proud patriot, a loving father, and a staple in the Columbia Falls community. He loved the community of Columbia Falls and will be dearly missed. I thank Billy and the entire Sapa family for all they’ve done to make the Flathead Valley a great place to call home.

“Rest easy brother,” the entry read.

Zinke read the entry to the crowd at the ceremony and presented a framed copy to the family.

Other speakers included longtime friend Randy Russell, coach Julio Delgado, friends Harry Amend and football coach Jaxon Schweikert and his cousin Bills’ cousin, Chad Sapa.

Delgado injected a good dose of humor into the celebration, including fun hunting and coaching stories — he coached Sapa as part of the Glacier Twins back in the 1980s.

Delgado was also a longtime coach of the Whitefish Bulldogs basketball team.

“I think this is the first time I’ve ever worn blue in this gymnasium,” he said. “I do it out of respect for this kid. I loved him like a son.”

He said as a player, Sapa wasn’t afraid to fail, if it meant a chance to succeed.

Later in life, Delgado hunted with Sapa and his father, Dick.

He recalled going on a hound hunt with another friend after a bobcat. The dogs treed the cat and Delgado wanted to get it with a bow, but it was way up in the branches and just two eyes peered out.

He took six shots and missed them all. Billy retrieved the arrows and gave them back to Delgado who eventually found the mark. The cat then fell and was stuck in crotch of a branch.

It was Billy who went back to the truck, got the chainsaw and cut down the tree so Delgado could retrieve the cat.

A few years later Delgado got a mountain lion while hound hunting. After the hunt, he brought the cat to the Blue Moon to show Billy.

“How many arrows did it take this time?” Billy quipped.

They brought the cat right into the bar and put it on the counter to look at it.

“Only in the Blue Moon,” Delgado said.

Bill Sapa died April 17 at the age of 53. He was found by a family member in the recliner that used to be his father’s at the family home.

“Don’t cry because he’s gone,” Schweikert said. “Smile because we knew him.”