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William "Bill" David Aho
December 24th, 1937 - November 23rd, 2024
December 24th, 1937 - November 23rd, 2024
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7
Rev. William D. Aho (Bill)
December 24, 1937 – November 23, 2024
Rev. William D. Aho (Bill), an adventurer, educator, pastor, coach, and missionary, went to be with the Lord on November 23, 2024, at the age of 86. His life was a tapestry of service, dedication, and love for God, his family, and the countless lives he touched.
Bill was born on December 24, 1937, in Longview, Washington, the first child of William L. Aho and Eaudeal H. Aho. His early years were spent in the Lewis River Valley. After World War II, the family moved to Crescent City, California, in the shadow of the majestic Redwood Forest. Surrounded by nature’s splendor, eight-year-old Bill developed a love for the outdoors, learning to hunt, fish, and swim in Jordan Creek alongside his fun-loving cousins. These experiences sparked a lifelong passion for wilderness adventures and mentoring others in outdoor skills.
The family returned to Washington after Bill's freshman year of high school, where he became the "new kid" at Winlock High. There, Bill’s talents as an athlete and leader began to shine. He played football, and basketball, but excelled in track, setting a school record in the mile that remained unbroken for ten years. As ASB President, his natural charisma and leadership emerged, laying the foundation for his future work. During this time, Bill made the most important decision of his life: to become a follower of Jesus Christ during a revival at Winlock Assembly of God Church.
After graduating in 1956, Bill followed his calling to the ministry and enrolled at Northwest Bible College, with his heart set on missionary work, particularly in regions where the Gospel was not freely shared. During summers, he ministered among Native American communities with a team of young evangelists, including a gifted piano player named Merrilie, whom Bill married in 1959. She was his wife and ministry partner for 57 years. Again, Bill was ASB president his senior year in college.
After graduating college with a ministry degree, Bill began as a pastor in small towns, faithfully shepherding congregations in Wenatchee and Twisp, Washington. After two years of this, with an eye on future missionary work, he moved to Bellingham WA and earned a teaching certificate from Western Washington University. He took a teaching position at Nooksack Valley High School, where he worked for 12 years, while he and Merrilie raised three children. Bill taught high school English and coached basketball and track. His teams' successes added to the school trophy case, but more importantly, he instilled discipline and integrity in his players, some of whom became pillars in the church he later pastored.
In 1978, Bill resigned from teaching to become pastor of Nooksack Assembly of God Church, where he had previously served as song leader. There, he founded Royal Rangers Outpost 177, a program that blended wilderness skills, Christian teaching, and life lessons. His vision for mentorship flourished as he poured into the lives of young men.
A new chapter began in 1990 when Bill used his teaching credentials to accept a position at a university in China, a country closed to missionaries at the time. For 16 years, Bill and Merrilie taught English and American culture at universities in Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Xiamen while quietly sharing the Christian faith in their home. Bill also founded a softball league, teaching his students not just the American game, but the values of teamwork and friendship. Many of his former students remember him fondly for the wisdom and love he imparted.
After his time in China, Bill returned to the U.S. in 2006 and settled in Plain, Washington, north of Leavenworth. Never one to rest, he established another Royal Rangers outpost at the local church, continuing his lifelong mission to mentor and guide young men, leaving behind a legacy of faith, resilience, and devotion.
Bill was many things to many people. At home, he was a dangerous chess player, a boisterous singer, a competitive scrabble player, a book lover, a poetry enthusiast, and an amateur woodworker who handcrafted much of the furniture in his home (which he also built).
The students Bill taught and coached during the school year, might not have been aware that in the summers, he built houses, and ranched cattle.
In his senior years, Bill was an artistic team member for Alpine Star Theater, a local children's theater in Plain from 2018-2024. He created a "Snoopy Dog house" for the "Charlie Brown Christmas" production and many other set pieces and props. In addition, he always volunteered to set up and take down the sets. He believed in their mission of building character, instilling Godly values, and teamwork. In addition, Bill acted in a church play " The Christmas Guest" as the main role "Conrad".
Abroad, he was remembered as an inspiring teacher and proclaimer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the wilderness, he was an award-winning marksman, adept in wilderness skills, and uncannily successful in bringing home big game.
In sports, he was the 85-year-old pitcher who helped his team win the league championship.
There is footage of Bill at 81 years of age, playing his 20-year-old grandson one-on-one in basketball, and winning. There is footage of him guiding a small boat to catch the daily limit of sockeye salmon, 9 fish, in two hours.
There is the legend of Bill suggesting to fellow English teacher and friend in China, Jack Ma, that there might be a business opportunity creating an online platform for Chinese businesses. This legend is true, and eventually resulted in the founding of Alibaba, and made Jack a billionaire. The two remained friends until the end.
The piece by which you remember Bill, is likely just a small piece of the man that he was.
Bill is survived by his sister, Carolyn Jones; his children, Kari Novikoff, Mark Aho, and Anne Hicks; his grandchildren, Heidi Ramos, Gina Ramos, Billy Aho, April Ramos, Kate Ramos, Ben Aho, Josiah Aho, Cassie Hicks, Rowan Hicks, and Aria Hicks; and a host of extended family, friends, and those he coached, pastored, and mentored. He was preceded in death by his wife, Merrilie.
A celebration of Bill’s remarkable life will be held on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Plain Community Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Royal Rangers program or one of Bill’s favorite charitable ministries. Please see the links below:
https://giving.ag.org/donate/700001-4b1227
https://meigiving.org/donate/grantwalker100
https://www.vemo.com/u/alpinestartheatre
The life of William D. Aho can be summed up in these words from the Apostle Paul:
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” – 2 Timothy 4:7
Events
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Resting Place
Frank Abel Cemetery
45.9388689, -122.635219
Tributes
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L. Y.
It has long been my wish to reconnect with Aho — which is what we called him when he was our "English Expert." I never imagined that our reunion would take this form. While searching for information about him online, I came across his obituary page instead, and the news left me heartbroken. Aho and I met at a university in Chengdu, where he was the foreign teacher and I was a faculty member. He was my first foreign friend, the kind of friend who could just show up and knock on the door of my flat. He taught an English class for English teachers from the Department of Foreign Languages, while I was a student from an electronics department. We always called him Aho, instead of Bill. It was the first time I ever felt truly enlightened by a poem — when he explained "Mending Wall" by Robert Frost to us. His teaching was spoken of highly among his students, and he was invited to give a public seminar. He seemed tickled by his title, 'English Expert,' on the seminar poster when he first spotted it as we walked past the poster wall after a basketball session, and he asked if he could peel off the Chinese brush-pen handwritten poster and keep it. I said "sure," since the seminar was already over. I left China and lost contact with him in the early 1990s. The last news I heard was that he had moved to another university in Guilin after completing his teaching post in Chengdu. Though we lost touch for over thirty years, the memories of our time together never faded — his teaching enhanced my English, and the afternoons we spent playing basketball and the day we climbed Qingcheng Mountain together remain vivid in my mind. I still remember how he brought Robert Frost's words to life for us, and I carried that lesson with me long after I left China. Rest in peace, Aho. I only wish I could have found you sooner. (A photo showing Aho's tea house English session. The Frost poem was from that thick book in his hand.)
Casey Cooper
Bill and I met at the National Canoe Expedition in Idaho/Spokane Valley in 2010. He was larger than life to me. He brought his own wooden canoe and a wealth of life experiences. I had not moved to Moses Lake from Eugene, yet, but he and others on the trip were the first people I met in Royal Rangers up here. Bill flipped his canoe and lost everything in a small rapid, but he was so cheerful, regardless of the loss. Spending time with Bill was like spending time soaking up life and joy. I wish I had photos with him, but I have never been one to think to take pictures in the moment.
Mark Aho
In honor of Bill Aho, my dad, who lived a magnificent life—and none of it in secret. Everyone knew what Bill Aho was about. As someone who observed his life up close, I can testify that there was no guile in him, no hidden personality. He was exactly what he appeared to be. Being the son of Bill Aho (schoolteacher, coach, AND pastor) in a small town was an honor, a privilege, and a challenge. An honor, because everyone knew who I was. A challenge, for the same reason. With his gifts and talents, there were many things Bill could have done in life. But the defining moment, which happened in his teen years, never faded. He gave his life to Jesus Christ, and all his life’s decisions centered around that commitment from that moment on. He once told me that if that had not happened, he would have joined the military, as some of his cousins did. Instead, he joined, served, and never retired from the Lord's army. He is meeting his great General now, and I expect he’s receiving many happy rewards. Two years ago, I had the privilege of driving with Dad back to Crescent City, where he was raised in the shadow of the redwood forest. I saw the creek he swam in, the rock he dove off of, and the one-room schoolhouse he attended (really!). I also saw the house his dad built. In front of the house, an enormous redwood tree had been cut down. But redwoods put up shoots—they never truly die. Around the rim of that massive stump, a circle of “small” redwood trees was growing, as large now as most other trees ever get. (see photo-far left) Though the original tree is gone, the life within that stump has multiplied and lived on. Maybe I am like one of those shoots, and my sons as well. Bill marked a trail for us, as a master trailblazer would, showing us the way. The results are in: what he discovered as a teenager was real. His commitment to Jesus Christ provided him with a prosperous life full of love, fulfillment, and even material rewards. Though Mom (Merrilie) once commented to me, “Of all the things your dad did, he never once got interested in making money.” It held no appeal to him—zero. Yet somehow, even in that arena, he ended up with more than a lot of people who strive for it. As Jesus said, “He who seeks to save his life shall lose it. But he who loses his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 16:25) That’s an astounding statement, but it also happens to be a testable axiom. Does it work, or not? The life of Bill Aho stands as evidence that what Jesus said is every bit true. Dad never claimed to have a brilliant mind. He never could spell worth a hoot (imagine that—an English teacher who couldn’t spell!). But for people like me, that’s a comfort. You don’t have to be brilliant to succeed; you just have to get a couple of key things right. Dad’s investment paid off in all the best ways, and I, for one, want to make that same investment. Of all the ways to honor his life, that would certainly be the best. God bless you now and always, Dad, Bill, and all your other titles. I love you. Thank you for blazing the trail, and we will meet again down at the river! Mark Aho
Rick Kilbourn
How did you meet William?
Bill was a living legend in our family, we would often refer to traveling at the speed of Bill Aho ( like the speed of light ). You ran a great race sir! Rick and Heidi Kilbourn
Dennis Dudley
My earliest recollection of Bill was in the FCF Village at Pow Wow (now Ranger Camp). He was demonstrating his Rice Cannon to the Ranger boys gathered around and sharing the Gospel. Over the years I got to know both Bill and Merrilie and appreciated their dedication to ministry in both China and stateside during the summers. Bill served in the Royal Rangers Junior Leader Training Academy in various positions. For several years of that we worked together on the Back Packing portion. It was a great experience Hiking, camping and fishing with Bill. However the most memorable of the Hike was watching the connection Bill made with the young men we were mentoring. He was always encouraging the young men and sharing what it meant to be a man of God. Our loss is heavens gain. I'll miss you bud Dennis Dudley Royal Ranger Alumni Coord
Maxwell Warthen
Plain royal ranger here. I speak for many when I say this: His outpouring and example have made me who I am today. I am a much better man because of him. He was a legendary, important, & larger than life figure in my and my friends lives and we will miss him dearly. Words fail to underscore this. He was the closest thing I had to a grandpa and I treasure the many memories I have of him. I don't think I know a better role model of a man being faithful to God's call.
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