William Richard Schueneman was born in Gregory, SD to William and Martha Knittel Schueneman on June 28, 1940. He lived on the farm north of Dallas most of his life. He attended Edens School north of the farm for eight years. Bill graduated from Gregory High School in 1958. He continued farming and ranching with his father and uncle Otto.
He was drafted into the Army in 1963 and was honorably discharged in 1965. In this time, he spent 6 months in Vietnam. His unit was the first troops in Vietnam to survey the area for the rest of the forces. The only troops in before his were the ones who had to do all the spraying to kill the thick vegetation. Bill received a purple heart from scrap he sustained when the convey he was in was involved in an ambush that took 30 lives and left many injured.
Bill came back to Dallas returned to farming and ranching with his father and uncle Otto.
Bill was married to Julia Brown November, 1966 in Gregory SD. In May of 1969 due to health issues, Bill decided to go to college in Spearfish. He sold his machinery and moved to Spearfish. He got his degree in 2 ½ years. Moved trailer back to Dallas in Feb. of 1972 on Kristi’s 3rd birthday. Bill had taken an accounting job at Rosebud Electric.
Billi Jean joined the family after this. Bill’s love of cattle and country saw him buying yearlings and eventually stopped working for Rosebud Electric. He sold AAL Lutheran Life Insurance for several years before going into farming and ranching full time. He started sub mail carrier, which turned to full time in March 1991 while trying to take care of the ranch.
Bill remained on the farm until June 2018 when he became a resident at Winner Regional Long Term Care. Bill passed away on March 11, 2020 while in hospice care after many years of physical and mental issues, which included Agent Orange and PTSD.
Bill is survived by his wife Julia, two children: Kristi and her husband John Roeder of Gregory SD, ; and BilliJean and special friend Steve Syfie of Gregory, SD: his 6 grandchildren Kendall Roeder of Sioux Falls, SD, Garret Roeder of Gregory, SD, Preston Colford of Gregory, SD, Mercedes Colford of Kansas City, MO, Richard Colford and special Aaron Lessman of Kansas City, MO, Brandi and husband Zane Whitney of Iona, SD and step grandson Anthony and wife Molly Coflord of Yankton, SD; and 3 great grandchildren: Jacoby, Zendaya and Joeziah; and step great granddaughter Breckan: his sister Shirley and husband Clyde Kygar of Tulsa OK, niece Roslyn Kygar and daughter Magdalena of Austin TX, and many cousins and their families and numerous friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and all aunts, uncles, and a few cousins and friends.
Memorial Services are planned for 5:00pm on Sunday, July 26th, 2020 at St. John Lutheran Church Gregory, SD. Inurnment will take place on Monday, July 27, 2020 at Black Hills National Cemetery with full military honors provided by the US Army and the Spearfish Honor Guard.
Arrangements are under the care of the Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com
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