William Luke Clarno

William Luke "Wild Bill" Clarno saddled up for his final ride on August 15th, 2025, at the age of 56, after a tragic accident in the Centennial Valley.

Born January 21st, 1969, at Barrett Hospital in Dillon Montana to Herman and Patricia Clarno, Bill was brought home to the Whitworth Ranch on Big Sheep Creek. It was on Sheep Creek where he was raised into the cowboy way of life. He joined his big sister Dee in the wide-open country of the Quarter Circle C ranch as their playground. Bill graduated from Lima High School in 1987, where he excelled just enough to stay on the football field where he truly excelled. He later went on to complete the Farrier Program at Montana State University, a trade that matched his love of horses.

Bill spent most of his life working the Quarter Circle C Ranch, where he honed his "get the job done before you ride back to the barn" work ethic and his deep respect for livestock and the land. He was never afraid of long days, sore muscles, or dirty boots-ranching was his calling.

On March 5th, 1988, he married his high school sweetheart, Tracy Lee Hess, in Lima Montana. Together they built a good life, raised four kids: Colton, Cimbrelyn, Caden, Cenzington, and later Tracy's baby sister Cali. He spent many hours working with his children on the ranch where his strongest desire was to push his children to be better than he was. Bill was their loudest cheerleader, often hollering from the sidelines, and sometimes even from the parking lot at the request of the referee.

Bill was affectionally known to his grandkids as Grampoo, and that's where his softer side showed. He shared in their youthful spirit with the idea that rules were only suggestions to be ignored, and adventures were meant to be had. From catching them as they flew down the laundry chute, to sledding down the staircase and building forts fit for outlaws, Bill took pride in making their childhood one that was filled with stories worth retelling. He also made sure no kid left hungry, or without a saddlebag full of candy. Though iron tough to most, when it came to those grandkids, Bill was pure gold.

Bill leaves behind his wife Tracy; children Colton (Ashlee), Cimbrelyn (Derrick) Wade, Caden (Clay), Cenzington and Cali (Justin) Weekes, and his nine grandkids Fayth, Audrey, Rhett, Wyatt, Henley, Annastyn, Weston, Boston and Tristin. He is also survived by his sister Dee (Shannon) Christopher; nieces Shay (Blaine) and Joelle (Dylan); and nephew Shiloh (Jordan). He now rides ahead to join his parents, who went before him.

Services will be held Friday, August 22, 2025 at the Lima High School Gym in Lima, Montana. Visitation with the family at 1:00 pm with service to follow at 2:00 pm. Internment at the Lima Cemetery to follow. A dinner will be held at the Kellogg Ranch at Dell, Montana afterward.

He may have been unapologetically cranky, but he is unforgettable. Behind the gruffness and noise was a heart as big as the open range. He lived life on his own terms- loud, stubborn, and full of grit- and he rode off into the sunset the same way. The trail was never quiet with him on it, and that's exactly how he wanted it.