William Whitney Gault, 77, died on March 15, 2024, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis after battling complications from lung disease. He was born on January 1, 1947, in Sterling, Illinois. His parents moved the young family to Nashwauk, where his mother, Stella's family lived, in 1953. Bill had four younger siblings, was involved in a large number of shenanigans, and ultimately graduated from high school in 1965. One of his great loves was music. He played the trombone from a young age and was asked to play in the City Band while still in junior high school – a high honor. Bill's greatest love, however, was his wife, Mickey (Mildred Galbraith). Bill asked her to the junior prom, and they were virtually inseparable ever since. The two married on September 24, 1966, in Goodland, after he graduated from Communications School in the Navy. Bill was initially stationed in Norfolk, VA for two years, then the couple transferred for a year (reported by both to be the best year of their lives) to the Azores, an island off the coast of Spain.

After the military, Bill and Mickey bought a house in Blaine and had their children, Amy and Sam. After Bill was offered a promotion to manage a branch of Action Threaded Products, where he had worked for 4 years, the family moved to California for two years. After the big adventure, they moved back to Andover, where they raised their kids and stayed until retirement. Bill worked for the Minneapolis Post Office for 10 years before retiring in 2006. He and Mickey then followed their dreams and purchased 40 acres in northern Minnesota. Bill loved to spend time on the lawn mower or working on one of his beloved old vehicles, another lifelong passion of his.

Family is what truly mattered to Bill - he was a favorite of many nieces and nephews and thoroughly enjoyed weaving tales for anyone who was visiting, which were based mostly on reality. Bill was always the life of the party, which continued until his passing. His wit, wisdom and larger than life personality will be greatly missed by all the family and friends, as well as special friends, Dot and Dave Fedie, of Tennessee.

Survived by his wife of 57 years, Mickey (Mildred); daughter, Amy Gault (Ray Piper); son, Sam (Joyce) Gault; grandchildren, McKenna Stoddard and Leo Gault; and many other relatives and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 6th at 11:00 a.m., Hilltop Chapel, 49448 Osprey Avenue, Palisade.