Bill R. Longpine

Billy “Bill” Raymond Longpine passed away from this life on Friday, August 9, 2024, at the age of 94 from complications of a stroke at his home in Hays. He was born Feb 12, 1930, in Russell Kansas to Raymond and Wynne (Haughey) Longpine.

 After losing his father as an infant, the family moved to Garber, OK, where he grew up with his mother and stepfather Sam Deeds as an only child. He graduated from Garber High School and continued his education earning a degree from Oklahoma State University.

His professional life began at Oklahoma State University teaching classes on automatic transmissions. He soon moved on to the oilfield service sector where he specialized in logging and perforating. The oilfield took Bill from Oklahoma to Texas and eventually to Kansas. In 1959 he became a founding partner in Great Guns Inc., a logging and perforating company stationed in Hays. He ultimately sold his interest in Great Guns and after a short stint in the printing business, he and a partner founded L-K Wireline and Acid Company in1972, also in Hays. He sold the business in 2016 after a 44-year history.

Bill enjoyed his family, his cabin at Cedar Bluff Lake, his Condo in Cabo San Lucas, reading, and the Dallas Cowboys. He never missed a chance to join his buddies at their daily coffee klatsch. He was a longtime member of the Shriners and an officer in the local AARP chapter.

In 2019 he suffered a serious stroke which affected the remainder of his life. Bill lived his life as a cheerful, patient, always quick with a smile, and a man with a calming influence. When asked about his persistent good mood, he once replied, “in this life you can choose to be angry, or you can choose to be happy…I choose Happy!” He retained those endearing qualities even through health struggles near the end of his life.

Bill married Betty Lou (Barrow) on January 3, 1954, in Dalhart, Texas. Together they raised a family of three children, Curtis, Randy, and Tonya. They lived a wonderful life together until Betty’s death from Parkinson’s on September 28, 2012. He took very good care of Betty right up to the time of her death. Bill married his high school girlfriend JoAnn (Keahey) Hayes in 2013.

Bill is survived by wife, JoAnn Longpine, of the home; his son, Curtis, and wife, Renee, Hays, KS; his daughter, Tonya Staab and husband, Brian, Hays, KS; his daughter-in-law, Carrie Longpine, Antonino, KS; his grandchildren, Tyler Longpine and wife, Jillian; Brianne (Staab) Sultzer, and husband Ryan; Ryan Longpine and wife, Katie; Tasha (Staab) Lang, and husband, Kevin; Kelsey Longpine; his great-grandchildren, Harper Sultzer; Hudson Sultzer; Ashlen Lang; McKenn Lang; Karson Lang; Maya Longpine; Sierra Longpine; Bethany Longpine; his step-children, Sheryl Jones and husband, Will, Tacoma, WA; Randy Hayes and wife, Marietta, Huntington Beach, CA.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Wynne Longpine; his first wife, Betty Longpine; and his son, Randy Longpine.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, August 19, 2024, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays with Rev. Delbert Stanton officiating. Inurnment will be in Mount Allen Cemetery, Hays, Kansas. 

A visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Sunday, and from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Monday, at the mortuary. 

 In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial contributions made payable to: Hays Medical Center Foundation in care of Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Condolences can be sent via e-mail to clineschapels@gmail.com or can be left at guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com