Dennis Earl Williams (our dad, husband, brother and uncle) passed away peacefully with his family on October 7, 2025. His wife Betty Joyce Williams was in his arms and his children Shari, Mike, Mont, Mark (and Mark's wife Brenda) were all with him at his home in Westminster, Colorado.  He listened to some of his favorite music including Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers and Neil Diamond… as he gently rested and settled his earthly experience.

Dennis was born in Timber Lake, South Dakota on September 17, 1935. His parents were Marvin Orville Williams and Vivian Williams (Taplin). He grew up in Boulder, Colorado with his siblings Kay (Riddle), Sigmund and Roger. Marvin helped build and operate the Boulder Airport, where Dennis and his brothers played in empty aircraft and took down enemy planes in their dreams. Dennis was a star athlete excelling in Baseball, flirting with playing professionally. After graduating from Boulder High School, Dennis worked construction in Alaska for a few years (before it was even a state), then later served in the Air National Guard as an MP guarding some of US's most elite fighter planes at the height of the Cold war.

On July 20, 1957, Dennis locked his barracks bedroom door from the inside, crawled out a small window on a warm Louisiana summer night, and alongside his best Army buddy, Anthony Bourgois, he went AWAL!  This would be the most important night of his 90 years on earth, as they traveled from Ft. Chaffee Arkansas to Louisianna to meet Anthony's girlfriend Connie, and her best friend Betty on a blind date. This began a 68-Year love story between Dennis and Betty.  Before marrying on April 4, 1959, Dennis and Betty wrote letters every day as Dennis was deployed in Alaska. Once married they lived in Greeley as Dennis finished up his degree and introduced the world to their daughter Shari in 1960.  They moved to Fowler, Colorado where Dennis started his career and expanded the family with the birth of Mike in 1962, and Mont in 1963, both born in Rocky Ford. In the mid 1960's they moved to Northglenn where Mark was born in 1966.

At his core, Dennis was an educator, spending more than 30 years as a Teacher, a Coach (football, basketball, baseball, and wrestling), an Athletic Director, a principal, and finally as Assistant Superintendent of one of the largest school districts in Colorado. Throughout his work life he made a giant and positive impact on so many students, teachers, athletes, parents and beyond… all while teaching and coaching his family so many important life lessons that we use every single day. One of his favorite times within his work was serving as the Principal of Northglenn Junior High School.  Motivating his staff with tough but gentle guidance made him a beloved leader who earned the respect and admiration of his team.  We all learned teamwork and logged many Saturday mornings playing basketball at NGJH with his teachers and students. Nobody set a harder 'pick and roll' than our Dad.

After being promoted to a Assistant Superintendent and winding down his career overseeing multiple departments of School District 12, Dennis retired young at 55.  He and Betty traveled all over the country and abroad. They spent time in Europe, New Zealand, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii… usually traveling with family, or their best friends George & Barb McCollach, or Floyd & Wanda Land.  They always made time every year to organize family vacations in the mountains or to travel to a tennis tournament (US Open in NYC, BNP Open in Indian Wells, Citi Open in D.C., plus many others).

He played competitive tennis into his late 80's and shared this incredible sport with his kids and grandchildren for decades. In 2010 his team won the Colorado State Championship and traveled to Las Vegas to play in the Regional Championships. His real teammates were Mont, Mike, and Mark… as they played hundreds of matches together at Livingston Park and Stratford Lakes tennis courts.

Dennis enjoyed Pizza, BBQ ribs, Salmon, Fried Chicken, Lemon Pie, and Black Licorice. In the 1980's and 90's he crafted some of the world's most delicious fresh peach & rum daiquiris ever blended and shared them with his friends Sue & Den Giullian over many debates and lively conversations.

The positive impact Dennis had on us (his children) and his five granddaughters (Krescent, Aminta, Solana, Josie and Marisa Joy) is hard to put into words. His fatherhood & grandfather hood was so loving, so committed, so caring, and so engaged. He taught us so many lessons: integrity, kindness, passion, curiosity, friendship, leadership, loyalty, patriotism, honor, courage, respect, value, fairness, joy… just to name a few.

He celebrated his 90th birthday in September, so we're grateful he lived a long & rich life. Our dad was John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, Kenny Rogers and Arthur Ashe - all rolled into a tough but tender-hearted man who shaped us with his wisdom more than any other. He read more books than the population of a small country. He could read, watch a CU Buff game and engage in a family conversation all at the same time.

Above and beyond anything else, the most impressive part of Dennis Earl Williams was his 68-year relationship with our mom, Betty. Their love and marriage was poetic, genuine and everlasting devotion. They dated their entire marriage going to movies and dinners like they were teenagers. His wife Betty was his love, his world, his life, his everything.

We all miss him dearly but have so many amazing memories of our dad which will live in our heart forever.