When not working hard in his father's Albany, Oregon butcher shop with his brother Bob, Bill was out playing hard. Be became a youth leader and high-achiever in his community. When WWII called him to duty, Bill trained as a Naval pilot. A dive bomber and head of his squadron, he was ready to fight when the war ended. The same day he got his wings, he married his love Fern. Back in Albany, Bill found himself once again in the butcher shop. Determined to do more, he tried several businesses, including crop dusting, before discovering that people seemed to really like his beef and turkey jerky, based on old Danish family recipes. He founded Smoke-Craft and popularized jerky as a snack food throughout the country and the world.

All the while, he was soaring off of ski slopes, competing in tennis, running other businesses, and working countless hours to support his community. But his love of family and his faith always came first in this remarkable life, Flying High.