William (Bill) John Grueter passed away early Saturday morning, July 31, 2010, after a very short stay at Royal Vista Nursing and Rehab Center. He was 83.Bill was born on December 11, 1926 to William B. and Betty Thompson Grueter in Menominee, Michigan. The family including younger sister, Doris Ann, moved to Seattle, WA in 1931 and then to Bellevue a few years later.Bill attended Overlake High School where he lettered in both football and baseball. He served as Overlake High School chapter president of the Future Farmers of American and attended the FFA National Convention as one of two state delegates in 1943. He served as senior class treasurer and chairman of the Overlake Standards Committee, graduating in 1945.Bill entered the military after graduation and served during WWII as an X-Ray Specialist for the Army, training medics in Texas. Upon return from the military, Bill attended Washington State University at Pullman for 1 year and then transferred to Montana State College where he graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture with majors in Animal Industry and Range Management. Upon Graduation, Bill retuned to Bellevue. His parents sold their farm and moved to Ellensburg, where his father, in partnership with Bill, purchased the old Robbins Family homestead on Robbins Road off Reecer Creek. Bill was ready to fulfill his lifetime love of ranching. He raised horses and feeder cattle and grew crops of timothy hay, alfalfa, and oats. Bill practiced soil conservation habits long before environmentalist became prominent forces in the country.In1958, Bill married Patricia Bender Hancock, and became an instant dad to her daughter Pam a role which he relished with great pleasure.To encourage a love of farm life in the youth of Reecer Creek, Bill, along with Jack White and Gerald Hunt, founded the Get Up and Go 4-H Club. He served as the adult leader until 1965. Bill also was an active member of the Kittitas County and Washington State Cattlemen's Associations and also a member of the Washington State Farm Bureau. He served on the Kittitas County Planning Commission for several years in the late 60's and early 70's.Bill was a rancher all his adult life. He rode his horse, Belle, until he was 80. His farming career ended in 2008 when a fall from the tractor during spring hayfield prep resulted in a head injury which prevented him from carrying on the business. He then resided with his daughter, until July of this year.Bill is preceded in death by his father, William, his mother, Betty and his wife, Pat. He is survived by his daughter, Pam, his sister, Doris Ann (Jack) Burrell, nieces-Karol Burrell Flynn and Kay Burrell, and great nieces Emily Flynn (Casey) Hirschfield, and Allison Burrell.A Celebration of his Life will be held September 18, 2010 from 1-3pm at the Western Village on the north side of the Rodeo grounds. For more information contact Pam Grueter at 929-1330.In lieu of flowers, please send remembrances in Bill's honor to Hospice Friends of Kittitas County, Kittitas County 4-H, Kittitas County Heritage Center, or to a charity of your choice.Dad, we'll miss your great sense of humor, your love for animals, and your readiness to lend a helping hand to everyone in need.