Bill Putnam was born December 7, 1942 in Water Town, South Dakota. His mother was Clara Mae Lantgen, Putnam, and his father was William Wallace Putnam. He was the eldest of three children.  His two sisters are Patricia (husband James) Broten and Kasie (husband Gary) Simonson.

Bill graduated from Grand Forks High School in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He attended The University of North Dakota and Graduated with a BS in Biology then attended a year of law school before entering the army in 1968 where among other duties he served as a Judge Advocate Assistant on an army base in Vicenza, Italy.  While in the Army, Bill put his lifelong hunting skills to use to earn a Sharp Shooting Metal.

As a lifelong learner, he also earned his Master in Business Administration from City University of Seattle at Bellevue, Washington and his Master of Environmental Studies from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Illinois.

After leaving the Army, Bill went to work for Morrison Knudsen where he met Marsha Lynn Hoskins, Bingham. They were married on February 2, 1974 in Idaho Falls, Idaho at the United Methodist Church where Marsha's family had been longtime members. Bill and Marsha have three children Max (wife Janine) Hoskins II, Vincent (wife Martha) Putnam, and Angela (husband John) Biebel.  Bill has nine grandchildren listed by age – Lilly Putnam, Grace Putnam, William Putnam, Michael Biebel, Julia Hoskins, David Putnam, Thomas Hoskins, Luke Biebel and Paige Putnam.

Bill worked for Morrison Knudsen for twenty years.  During this time, he served as Lead Contracts Administrator.  His work took him and the family all around the United States – New York, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, Washington, Idaho, Missouri and Colorado.  After retiring from Morrison Knudsen, he and the family settled on Marco Island, Florida where he sold real estate.

He turned his passion for farming into collecting palm tree seeds which eventually lead him to start Putnam's Nursery where he raised and sold palm trees in the Naples area. When Marsha retired from a seventeen year accounting career with Allen Systems Group, Inc. in Naples, Florida, they moved to Lake Placid, Florida where he and Marsha lived for eight years. In 2020 Bill's health began to decline so he and Marsha moved to Boynton Beach, Florida to be near Vince, Martha and family.

Throughout his life, he was a loving and faithful husband, father and grandfather. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, handball, tennis, pickle ball, and pinochle. Wherever they lived Bill and Marsha were active members in various Christian Churches. Bill had beautiful blue eyes that could either sparkle with mischief or shine with true love and compassion.  He liked good jokes and even dumb jokes.  He loved to laugh, and was in his true element when he could make others smile.

Memorial services for Bill will be held at Trinity Delray Church where Bill and Marsha have attended church since moving to Boynton Beach and where their son, Vince Putnam, is the Senior Pastor.

A funeral service will be held at Trinity Delray Church Sanctuary, 400 North Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach, FL 33444 on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 5:30 pm. There will be a reception after the service in Trinity's Friendship Hall at 6:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bill's memory to Trinity Delray Church Youth Fund (see address above).