William "Bill" Edgar Lindstrom

A Nose for News

Bill Lindstrom’s standout 70-year career in journalism began in the seventh grade when a teacher took him to interview Vice President Richard Nixon. Bill went on to become a reporter and editor on daily newspapers across America, and in retirement an accomplished Northwest historian.

William Edgar Lindstrom was born on May 10, 1942, to Marian and Arvid Lindstrom in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. The family moved to California in 1947. After his father left the family, Bill was raised by his mother. In a poignant reunion as a young man, Bill reconnected with his father and invited him to share his home.

Bill’s life was punctuated by faith, hope and resilience. As of August 15, he would have been sober for 43 years.

Growing up in Santa Ana, Bill delivered newspapers and was sports editor of his high school paper, also serving as a correspondent for The Los Angeles Times and Examiner. In his senior year, his work was saluted by the Orange County Press Club. The Scholastic Sports Association awarded him a scholarship, but he chose instead to attend Sterling College, a liberal-arts Presbyterian college in Sterling, Kansas. Over the next four years, he studied for the ministry through several colleges, all the while contributing stories and serving as outdoor editor for the Santa Ana Register and a number of other newspapers. His broad range of college classes made him a champ at Jeopardy.

After 11 years as a reporter in California, Bill became the Daily Olympian’s sports editor in 1974, traveling with the Mariners and Seahawks. He left the Olympian in 1985 and launched his own newspaper, The Spectrum, also pursuing public relations until sidelined by a heart ailment. After six months of recuperation, he joined The Daily World in Aberdeen as city editor from 1986-1997, directing a newsroom that won numerous awards for investigative reporting and feature writing.

His newspaper career continued in management positions at several newspapers around the nation, including St George, Utah; Port Angeles, Washington; Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, and Lake City, Florida. Bill returned to Aberdeen in 2002 and remained with The Daily World until his retirement in 2013. His love of Northwest history played a key role in an award-winning book, On the Harbor—a project spearheaded by The Daily World’s editor, John C. Hughes, another avid historian. Bill counted Hughes and the late John Brewer, editor and publisher of the Peninsula Daily News at Port Angeles, as honored friends and mentors.

Bill’s serendipitous career in journalism included meeting the famed Mouseketeer, Annette Funicello, and having lunch with Raquel Welch. He was proud of his autographs from interviews with many of the baseball greats of the 1950s and ’60s. He rode in a rally car at breakneck speeds, went hang-gliding, opened the outdoor season for boating and fishing, and traveled in the Soviet Union before its dissolution. He loved covering high school sports and received an award from the Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association for his coverage of wrestling.

In 2014, Bill published John Tornow: Villian or Victim?, a book project 28 years in the making. His meticulously researched book cast a new light on the legendary “Wildman of the Wynooche.” In 2018, he published Strait Press: A History of the News Media of the North Olympic Peninsula, and edited seven books, including The Ravaged Forest by Sandra Crowell in 2024.

Divorces followed Bill’s 1966 marriage to Karen Furth and 1976 marriage to Rhonda McCunn. He was married to Margaret Maull from 1983 until her death in 2006. He and Margaret helped raise three granddaughters. 

Bill spent his autumn years with Sandra Crowell of Olympia. They shared their passion for writing Northwest history and traveled in the Middle East, British Isles, Jamaica, and Hawaii as well as the East Coast, Colorado, Idaho, and Washington. They enjoyed book-signing events and history presentations. Bill served on the Thurston County Historic Commission until his passing.

Surviving Bill are a son, Ryan Lindstrom; an adopted daughter, Debilyn Kinzler (Steven); step-daughter Terri Maull-Taylor and her children, Leah Taylor-Olsen (Kevin), Amber Taylor and Nicole Taylor; two grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; Sandra Crowell, and many close friends and colleagues. He was preceded in death by a son, David.

Bill extended special thanks to the staff at Capital Medical Center for their compassionate care.

Bill Lindstrom stood for integrity and accuracy in journalism as well as life. His example lives on through those he mentored and encouraged.