William James Madlena passed away on July 30, 2026, in Copper Ridge Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. Bill was born in the Meaderville Addition of Butte, Montana on January 17, 1938, the son of William Michael and Sylvia Josephine (Michelotti) Madlena.

Bill's father was a Highway Patrolman and began his career in Miles City, Montana. Along with his little family, he lived in Miles City for 4 years before relocating to Billings, Montana, where they made their home for 6 years. At the age of 10 the Madlena family, which included Bill and his little sister, Mary, returned to Butte's McQueen Addition. Bill attended Holy Savior Parochial School and enjoyed growing up in McQueen, where he was surrounded by numerous cousins and extended family members. He enjoyed a special bond with all his cousins, especially Lois Michelotti. He graduated from Butte High School in 1956, before attending Western Montana College for a short time.

While attending Western Montana College, he met Alice Claire Yorath, it was love at first sight. They later married and returned to Butte, where they raised 5 sons. They remained devoted to each other until her death in 1994.

Bill worked at the Montana Highway Department and Boeing, in Seattle, Washington, before retiring from Stauffer Chemical, later known as Rhone-Pollanc. Following Alice's death and his retirement, he remained active by working part-time and enjoying hobbies. His main hobby was being the "Safeway Angel." Each week he would buy groceries at Safeway and anonymously leave them at the store's rear entrance to be picked up by the Food Bank. The manager at Safeway figured out it was Bill and dubbed him the Safeway Angel. According to a Montana Standard interview, the average cost was about $600.00 a month. Always thinking of the welfare of others, Bill was happy to do it for the less fortunate. He

also enjoyed walking, often logging about 5 miles a day. He enjoyed strolling around his hometown of Butte, often with his son, Bob. Another favorite past-time was Sunday dinner with his sister, Mary, and brother-in-law, Dave.

Every summer, he would travel to visit his boys and their families. When visiting Texas, he was able to spend time with Steve and John. In Georgia, he spent time with Don and his family. He visited Mike in Utah. Failing health made it harder to travel, but Steve and his wife, Sharon, made it a point to visit him twice a year and his other sons would visit whenever they could.

In addition to his parents and his wife, Bill was preceded in death by numerous relatives. He is survived by his sons and their families; Don and Joanna and their children, Anthony and Christina, of Georgia; Mike and Michelle and their children, Michaela and Megan, of Utah; Steve and Sharon and their children: Kyle, Garrett (Kasey), and Dawson, of Texas; John and Tracy, also of Texas, and Bob, of Glendive, Montana. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Dave Evans and their families, Gina Evans, and Lisa and Alex Lux, and their son, William, and numerous cousins and extended family members, which include, Jim and Margie Michelotti, their sons: John (Laurie), Tom (Marcie), Bryan (Jill), and Jason (Mae), and their families, members of the Bugni family, and Neil Madlena and his family.

Private Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, September 11, 2026, at 11:00 am in St. Ann's Catholic Church. Rite of Committal will follow in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Butte Emergency Food Bank.