Obituary of William Monks

William Kindel Monks was born on March 13, 1919, in Bunceton, Misssouri, to Edith and Roy Monks. He was the fourth of thirteen children. Several years later, the family moved to Colorado where Bill attended school in Hugo. On Valentine’s Day in 1937, Bill met Gladys Arrowood at a party and they began dating. Four years later, on April 5, 1941, Bill and Gladys were married in Goodland, Kansas. They returned to Limon where they made their home in the same house Bill had been renting. They soon purchased the house and continued to live there for over 69 years. To this union were born two sons, Larry and Steve. Bill often drove a cattle truck for a rancher, but dreamed of having his own agriculture operation. As soon as possible, Bill began farming by growing feed crops and wheat. He also raised pigs which he sold to earn the money to buy a different kind of livestock and built up a herd of award-winning cattle. Bill was a very shrewd judge of beef and took pride in his livestock. This was the life he wanted and thoroughly enjoyed. Bill was a hard worker, but still found time to enjoy taking his sons fishing. He also liked to watch sports on TV and follow cattle sales, both in person and on televised auctions. He took pleasure in visiting with the “coffee crowd” in his later years and tried to not miss a single session, morning or afternoon. He liked to tease his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and sometimes entertained them with his auctioneering skills. Bill and Gladys were faithful Lincoln county fair goers and always got pleasure from the many culinary offerings, the rodeos, and catching up with friends, relatives, and neighbors. They also attended barn dances from time to time. He was a member of the Limon Methodist Church for most of his life. Bill was a man who knew his own mind and was not afraid to make his thoughts and opinions known. He had a quiet generosity, often helping people without any fanfare or notoriety. Bill was a consummate cowboy and was fond of viewing the RFD channel on his television. The station seemed to be created just for him, especially any program featuring cattle, horses, or country western and polka music. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Edith and Roy Monks; five brothers: Dave, Homer, Arthur (Bo), Hillard (Hick), and Harold. He is survived by his wife, Gladys of Limon; sons, Larry (Casey) and Steve (Teresa) of Limon; four sisters, Dorothy Gilles, Thelma Rietz, Betty Jo Igou (Jack) all of Tucson, Arizona, and Huldah Igou of Limon; three brothers, Frank Monks (Bertha) and Gene Monks (Dolores) of Bellingham, Washington, and George Monks (Pat) of Limon; four sisters-in-law, Emma Monks and Thelma Arrowood of Limon, Margie Monks of Simla, and Mildred Horton of Glendale, Arizona; four grandchildren, Jennifer Monks of Colorado Springs, Jon Monks (Julie) of Ft. Collins, Matthew Monks (Jen) and Zachery Monks of Denver; three great-grandchildren, Logan Monks and Xander Monks of Ft. Collins and Ava Monks of Denver, numerous nieces nephews, friends, and neighbors. He will be missed.