William Dale Scilley
1945 – 2022
William Dale Scilley
William Dale Scilley was born April 17th,1945 to William Dell Scilley and Betty Lou Davis. Over a year later on October 23rd, 1946, Dale’s brother, Robert Daniel Scilley, was born.
Dale and his brother grew up in Billings, Montana, spending weekends on their grandmother’s property in Luther, Montana. Dale immediately took to sports, playing baseball, basketball, and football. He went to Billings West High School, where he was a part of the very first graduating class of 1963. In high school he lettered in baseball, football, and basketball, along with being All State in football and basketball his senior year. In 2010, Dale was inducted into the Billings American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame. He was recruited to Washington State University on a sports scholarship to play baseball.
He began his college career in 1963. While at WSU, he joined the fraternity Phi Delta Theta, where he met some of his lifelong friends. Originally, Dale studied to become a chemical engineer before switching to the business school.
Dale had his first and only son, Loy Norrix, on April 16th, 1965. In that same year, his WSU baseball team won 16 of its first 17 outings, including 12-straight to open the 1965 season, and rolled to a 29-6 regular season record. They won the Pacific Coast Northern Division and the Cougars finished 4th in the nation for that year. His 1965 baseball team was inducted into the WSU hall of fame in 2013. Dale also dabbled with a bit of basketball and football while at WSU, but baseball was always his favorite sport.
He graduated in 1968 with a degree in marketing. After college he signed a professional contract with the Detroit Tigers in 1968 and played a couple of years in the minor leagues, but had to eventually leave professional baseball forever after a career-ending knee injury.
Dale moved to the Seattle area after college, following his WSU friends. A couple months after graduating from college he had his first daughter Brooke Kilpatric, née Scilley on November 11th, 1968 with his first wife.
He worked a myriad of jobs in the Seattle area, including Boeing, 3M, Standard Register Company, and Potters Industries before settling in long term at RED-E Topsoil in Redmond. Dale took advantage of the Pacific Northwest’s beautiful scenery through boating, water sports, skiing, biking, fishing, golfing, and summiting Mt. Rainier.
He met his wife, Donna Lutkewitte, in 1987, and got married in 1994. They welcomed their daughter Davis Danielle Scilley on September 20th, 1995, naming her after his brother and late mother.
Dale retired in 2014 and spent his days playing lots of golf at Bear Creek Country Club, along with taking hunting trips to Montana, fishing trips to Alaska, and golfing trips to Palm Desert.
William Dale Scilley passed away peacefully at home on December 6th, 2022. He was 77 years old. Dale is survived by his wife (Donna), brother (Dan), children (Loy, Brooke, and Davis), and grandchildren (Liam and Lauren Norrix).
A celebration of life will be held at Bear Creek Country Club on February 4th, 2023 from 3:00pm-7:00pm. Anyone in Dale’s life is welcome—he had love and respect for all of his friends and family.
7 Responses to “William Dale Scilley”
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Scills was one of a kind. His enthusiasm, competitiveness, and sense of humor created so many stories. Dale, Roger Marsh and I owned and lived in a Lake Sammamish home for 7 years in the 70s. Thus, I got to witness his unique and infectious personality first hand. I am so fortunate to have known Scills for about 50 years. We will miss the spontaneous laughter that seemed to follow him around. I’m sure he is up there somewhere looking for a game ! Farewell my friend!
I first met Scills at WSU in 1964. We didn’t play many sports together at that time but we certainly knew how to have a good time his last 3 years before graduating. Upon my return to Seattle after working on the east coast for 3 years, I reconnected with Scills & we were inseparable from that point on. We worked out, it seemed like, 4 or 5 days a week & played every sport mentioned by Davis, over many years. Scills was the most physically fit of all his friends & the best athlete of us all. We had many many great trips together, salt water as well as fresh water fishing & an amazing climb to the top of Mt. Rainier. Scills was the most self effacing funny guy I’ve ever known. He could be miserable & still the funniest person at the party. He always made everyone around him laugh all the time. I will miss him immensely but will be sharing Scills stories the rest of my life. Sending much love your way Scills`
I grew up close friends with Davis and saw how wonderful of a father Dale was.
He was the coach for a basketball team Davis and I were both on. Dale was supportive, helpful and patient – always. Even when the whole gaggle of us girls put him through the ringer! And as Davis and I grew up, Dale continued to be more of the same.
I have not a single bad memory of time spent with Dale. Only his infectious laugh, helpful tips, and warm smile.
I have not been able to spend much time with Dale the past 20 years but when I did it only took seconds to get back in step with him and remember why I loved him so much. He was a unique personality, athletically talented and intensely competitive in a way you don’t see often. I will miss you Dale!!
Scills and I had a quiet bond ever since we met in the fraternity at WSU. We just clicked. We both hung out in the Kirkland area over the years, and I enjoyed our time, and his sense of humor.
I was aware of his health issues in recent years, but he handled them much better than anyone could.
I’ll miss him, but won’t forget our good times and friendship.
RIP Scills
I was very fortunate , to guide Dale on a Deer Hunt in Montana. Dale was dealing with health issues . Dale handled all in stride. Kind ,friendly ,Great story teller . We Laughed alot . He Harvested a beautiful 6 point whitetail ,Dale was an excellent marksman as well . YOU will be missed my Pal
I met Dale through his good friends Rob Abramson and Roger Marsh in the late 70’s. We became good friends and even room mates for awhile. I have so many fond memories of him. He could always make me laugh….he truly was the sweetest “GRUMP” I ever knew!
R.I.P. My Dear Friend