William "Bill" Bradley Hurd

William “Wild Bill” Bradley Hurd

     Bill Hurd, 91, passed away peacefully at his home June 4, 2020.  Bill was born to John Hurd and Hattie

Hurd on February 23, 1929.  He grew up with his brother Jim Hurd on a small farm in Acequia, Idaho. Bill

attended school in a one room building till 8th grade. In High School Bill was an athlete and lettered in

Football and Basketball all 4 years. After high school, Bill moved with his family to Gooding, Idaho where

he raised cattle, a small dairy and farmed with his family.

     Bill lived the life of a cowboy.  He was an avid rider.  He spoke of his favorite horse named Monty Nash

where he won many buckles and awards team roping.  Bill worked for the Forest Service, where he

would take supplies up to “Iron Mountain Lookout” by horseback and pack mules for the workers

fighting fires. He then went to work for Idaho Power in 1964.  He was remembered fondly by his

customers as “the meter-man”.   He retired from Idaho Power in 1994.  After retirement he went to

work for Gooding Fair and Rodeo as a ground’s keeper, where he would get the fairgrounds ready for

the Annual Fair and Rodeo. During the rodeo Bill could always be seen down at one end of the arena

working the gate for the riders entering the arena.

    Bill had a passion for horses and raised them for 20 years, teaching others to ride, and attending chariot

races in Richfield, Idaho where he had several of his own horses raced.

     Bill had his own full-size riding arena where folks would come to practice their riding and rodeo skills.

Bill would say the arena became known among the cowboy community as the “Chapter 11 Arena”. You

could always find Bill spending long Summer evenings out at his arena, Frances would never let him put

lights out, worried he would stay out all night. He also welcomed the High School Rodeo team out as

well. Bill did team roping for many years. In 2007 he was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame and was

recognized for his lifestyle as a true cowboy.

     Bill married Frances Kiley Regan in 1954.  They were blessed with two children, William (Troy) Hurd and

Kenneth Lee Hurd.  Bill enjoyed riding horses, hunting, fishing, camping at his lot in Featherville, Idaho

with family and attending his grandchildren’s sporting events. His last years he had a love to fish the

Neeley area with his son Ken and attending all the rodeos around the community. Ken took him

anywhere and everywhere he wanted to go.  After the passing of Frances, Bill remarried Frieda

Patterson, a new companion.

    Bill is preceded in death by his parents, brother Jim, his spouses - Frances and Frieda.

     Bill is survived by his children - Troy Hurd (Bridget), Kenny Hurd (Ellen); Daughter-in-law - Patti Hurd.

Grandchildren: Jeremy Hurd (Julee), Lindsay Hurd Gambrel (Casey), Keegan Hurd Fabian, Meghan Hurd

and Hannah Hurd.  Great Grandchildren:  Brooklyn Gambrel, River Gambrel, Jaxson Hurd, Addie Hurd

Levi, Landon Fabian Hurd, and Andres Fabian.

     A special thanks to Bill’s son Ken and Visions Hospice for his care in his final days. A graveside funeral will

be held Friday June 12 at 10:30 a.m. at Elmwood Cemetery, Gooding, Idaho. We will be holding a

celebration of life at the Hurd Residence later this Summer.

     Funeral and cremation arrangements are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service - Gooding Chapel.

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