William Dale Harold Barth was born on June 23, 1937, in Decorah, Iowa, son of Willie and Mabel Barth. He attended Luther College in Decorah. Bill married his childhood sweetheart Helen Valborg (Moe) Barth ’58 on June 4, 1960. He worked at Dayton’s Minneapolis, as manager of men's clothing where he was known to his Jewish friends as a 'mensch.' Bill and Helen both retired from Dayton’s in 1992. They loved adventure, traveling all over the world. Bill was preceded in death by his wife in 2016.

He had three brothers Donovan (Sharron), Dwight (Gail), and Brad (Loraine), and two sisters, Myrna (Ted) and Dianne (Mike). Bill and Helen spent much of their time in Lindstrom, Minn., enjoying their life on the lake, and at their Island home in Cozumel, Mexico. Bill and Helen have a son, John William Barth ’84 (Kathy), their children Elizabeth and Matthew, and daughter Juliana Lynn Barth ’86 (Lane Schwarz ‘89) and stepchildren Marguerite, Sophie and Will. A memorial service was held at Wyoming Methodist Church in Wyoming, Minn., on March 14, 2020. Burial will be at the Lutheran cemetery in Decorah, Iowa. Bill and Helen were longtime volunteers at Family Pathways and community and church events. They also did volunteer work in Cozumel at Ebeneezer Presbyterian Church.