William Rist, aged 60, pioneer of the Big Thompson valley, passed away peacefully at his home in Fort Collins at about 7:30 o'clock Thursday night. Death came instantly to all appearance and without pain. One moment he was reading a newspaper by the evening lamp and in the next the light of greatest understanding shone for him.

The news of the death was a surprise to all who heard it, for there had been no cessation in Mr. Rist's activties and no intimation that he was in danger of death. The widow and surviving daughters will be tendered the sympathy of every resident of Larimer county, for Mr. Rist was known and honored everywhere.

William Rist was the son of Abraham Rist, a pioneer of the Big Thompson valley. He was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, April 13, 1853 and was educated in Bethany, W. Va. With his father he came to Colorado in 1869, and settled down in the Big Thompson valley, the old Rist farm being near the home of Mariano Modena scout and frontiersman.

Mr. Rist moved to Fort Collins in 1881, a year after he had been married to Miss Texanna Trees of Texas.

He was elected county suveyor, serving several terms, and has also been city engineer of Fort Collins and engineer of irrigation division, No. 1 of Colorado. His public life extended over a period of 22 years.

He is survived by his brother, Charles, who is in the south; his widow and three daughters. None of the daughters are in the state at present.

Mrs. Rudolph Spyder is in Bowling Green, Ky., having but recently gone there to join her husband, who is ocupied in watching the outbreak at the foot and mouth disease for the government. The daughter, Charlotte is Mrs. Daught, living in Washington, and Miss Anna is visiting with her sister and completing her educaton at a Washington school. All were summoned home last evening and arrangements for the funeral will await their return.

[Originally published by] Fort Collins Express

Loveland Daily Herald, January 8, 1915

coloradohistoricnewspapers.org

More details in original article.