Bill Bain

I’m grateful for Bill’s kindness and acts of service. He has many talents and as he served, he obtained even more talents. He is a true disciple of Christ.

One of his many opportunities of service was when I had called him frantic because the Apria repairman said that I had to remove my bedridden mom from her hospital bed in order to replace the malfunctioning railing.

He dropped everything and came over right away but the Apria repairman wouldn’t wait and left the replacement railing. He got on the floor and figured out what he needed to do. I didn’t have the tools he needed so he went home, got his tools, came back and fixed the railing. All without moving my mom.

I am grateful for Bill and his example of Christlike love. May the Lord continue to bless him and his family!

Love,

Bill had a great way of working with boys and making them excited to try things. He had a fun project in 2025 with the primary boys making paper rockets and launching them in the gym at church. All the boys thought it was the coolest thing ever.

My friendship with Bill began when the Brookvale Ward became part of the Hayward Stake. I was serving in a Stake calling and had the privilege to work with Bill in various capacities, but particularly in our efforts to strengthen the Spanish Branch. As with everything Bill did, he worked tirelessly in that area, even serving as a counselor in the branch presidency for a time to provide strength and leadership to the growing branch.
Later, I was also deeply affected by the service he and Louise provided as senior missionaries in Mexico. They worked so hard together, and Louise was an amazing companion considering she did not know the language. Their example of service and sacrifice had a huge influence on our decision to later serve a mission in Peru, where my wife also struggled with the language but faithfully served among a wonderful people.
I love Bill and Louise and will look forward to the renewal of a wonderful friendship when we meet again. Until then, may the richest blessings be upon the Bain family now and forever!

Bill was my friend’s father, but also my Scout leader for the National Jamboree, Brownsea JLT, and a 50-mile backpack trip in Yosemite. I remember him as always being kind and patient with us Scouts. I have thought of him often as I became an adult Scout leader while my sons went through the program. How did he have the time and energy to help a bunch of rowdy boys? Thank you, Bill.

Bill Bain was my religious leader for a season of my young adult life. He invited me to his home for gathering with other young people. He was always so warm and understanding. His smile always is big and bright.
After getting married my interactions were less common but his big smile was always there.

I first met Bill & Louise when our children became engaged. Since that time, we have shared many celebrations as our children became parents, and we watched our grandchildren grow.

A favorite, early memory is of the day the Bain’s showed us San Francisco. Following Jenny & Eric’s marriage and reception in Utah, we traveled to Fremont for their California reception. Graciously, the Bain’s invited us (including our six younger children) to stay with them. They were excellent hosts. One day they packed a picnic lunch in their cooler, loaded their daughters in the car, and led the way to San Francisco. Following in our big blue van, we drove the hairpin turns of Lombard Street, visited the Golden Gate Bridge, and ate dinner in Chinatown. Our families bonded–the beginning of a wonderful friendship spanning nearly twenty-five years.

Bill was incredibly kind hearted and when given the opportunity to help someone in need. I remember going with Bishop Bain late in the evening to a motel in downtown Fremont to meet with a family needing help. I don’t know how many times Bill was called out from home for help but will always remember that experience and how tender and kind Bill was with this family in need.

I too remember our spring break trip down to Tijuana to build a house for a family in need. I believe it was the first time Bishop Bain organized for the ward youth to go down in 1996. It was a lot of work he put into organizing it and arranging for materials, etc. He wanted us as youth to have character building experiences and I appreciate all he did and sacrificed so that we could have those experiences. He had John Mordecai design a t-shirt that I still enjoy wearing. Jason Johnson entertained the kids with fireworks and we enjoyed the street food until it came back up. It was really an awesome experience and above and beyond what I’d expect any leader to do. A few weeks after our trip we celebrated with a slide show and a really long burrito (like 20+ foot long if I remember right). Another experience I remember him organizing was for the youth to go to general conference. He was a great Bishop. I really appreciate having him as a leader when I was a priest and all he did to encourage me to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you Bishop Bain for the awesome man you are and all you did for us as youth.

I was YW president of the ward and Bishop Bain decided that the Young Men and Young Women would go to Tijuana, Mexico to build a home for a family there. It was a life-changing experience for myself and all the youth who went. I’ll never forget Bishop’s enthusiasm for an endeavor that was not the norm and seemed not quite possible. But he was determined and we did it and I’ll be forever grateful that we did.

Bill and I went to church at the Lincoln branch. Our moms were friends because of church. Bill and I went to East Nicholas high school. He was a great example to me. I am so very sad that he is going through this. I would just like to say that all of you, his family, really have a choice man in your lives. He was always kind to me.

There are a lot of memories from my time in the YSA ward. I spent a lot of time in their house and you could feel the love & care they had for all of us. His lemonade was always a winner, too. ❤️

A nice memory I have of Bishop Bain was when he took the youth to Tijuana, Mexico back in the Spring of 1997. For a year, Bishop Bain along the youth gathered materials on weekends so that they could drive down to Mexico and build a small house for an impoverished family. I was an adult leader for the young women in our Ward and helped with supervising the young women and building the house. The house was built in 3-4 days. The look on the family’s face and the gratitude was something I will never forget. So much preparation, communication, and building to help a family in Mexico. Bishop Bain is loyal, hardworking, faithful, a visionary and loves others freely. He sacrifices so much for others and is a brilliant and an intelligent man. Bishop, thank you for your example, love, and dedication towards others, especially those in the Brookvale Ward. May God bless you now and always! Love, Heather Lammi Perez