Sandy resident, William “Arco Bill” Granstrom died at his home on July 31, 2015. He was 76. A memorial service will be held at Willamette National Cemetery on Tuesday, August 11 at 3:00 pm and will receive military honors.
William Lee Granstrom was born in Grand Island, Nebraska to Frank and Helen (Benson) Granstrom on May 18, 1939. He was raised on a farm in Nebraska where he attended school until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a mechanic in 1956 where he met his lifelong friends Tony & Rosalee Gilbert, Loren & Eddie Waldron, and Kemp & Georgia Lindsey. After his military career, he moved to Oregon and worked for Freightliner in 1967 then moved to Pocatello, Idaho where he met Pennie Steidle. They married on May 24, 1968 in Reno, Nevada. Together they lived in Idaho until moving to Portland in 1970 then moved to Sandy, Oregon where he owned the Arco Station at the east end the town where he received the nickname, “Arco Bill”. After many years, he sold the Arco station and became an entrepreneur in real estate in the Sandy area.
He enjoyed gardening, fishing, traveling and having a good time.
Survivors include his son Scott Granstrom of Sandy; daughter Casey Nicol of Hood River; sister Evelyn Elkinton; brother Keith Granstrom; Grandchildren Dillon Granstrom and Gabriel Cunningham; and companion of 15 years, Jan Krick of Sandy.
Arco Bill was known for living his life the, “I did it my way” style.