William Myers

Submitted Story

Published: Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

William Francis “Billy” Myers was born in Wilmington, Del., on Feb. 15, 1934. He was the son of Alfred Foster Myers and Marian Cole. At age 9, after his mother’s death, he and his sister, Dorothy, lived with their aunt Cora Cole Smoot in Prince Frederick, Md., where he graduated from high school in 1952. He attended Western Maryland College before enlisting in the United States Air Force, serving in French Morocco at a radio site. He was honorably discharged at Ft. Snelling, Minneapolis, Minn., in 1957. Bill and Virginia Thronson were married on July 12, 1957, at Erdahl Lutheran Church, Erdahl, Minn. Bill worked as a floorwalker at Donaldson’s in Minneapolis for a year. He attended Wahpehton School of Science previous to working for A.C. and Mark Bucholz at Interstate Credit Corp. in Milbank, S.D. He began work at Milbank Mutual/Royal Insurance Co. in 1961, retiring in 1992. Bill helped the Mundwiler family many years with their funeral home and ambulance service, and worked part-time after retirement for Torness Furniture. While in Milbank, Bill was a charter member of the Milltone Barbershop Chorus along with his son, charter member of the Milbank-Grant County Development Corp. and served the Boy Scouts in many capacities, including scout master. He served in various ways at American Lutheran in Milbank. He was a faithful head usher for many years. Here he began singing in the choir. Unable to find any baptismal records he was baptized by his friend, Pastor Harold Verhulst. Bill was elected to the board of the NeSoDak Bible Camping Association and was a signatory to the articles of incorporation for Lutherans Outdoors in South Dakota. Bill was a faithful friend with a servant heart. He enjoyed visiting with people and sharing Black Hills information he knew. His love affair with the Black Hills began in 1969 when the family first attended Family Camp at Outlaw Ranch, followed by many years of fishing and driving the back roads with friends.  A small secluded cabin was purchased 12 miles northwest of Custer in 1977 and in 1995 the Myers built a home on that site and moved to the Black Hills. There they continued to work for Outlaw Ranch and Atlantic Mountain Ranch doing whatever was needed. Bill was called “Mr. Hospitality” at AMR. He called himself the “cleaning specialist” at Outlaw. Bill was a member of Custer Lutheran Fellowship where his service to others continued in many wood haul trips to Pine Ridge and Wednesday night suppers. He continued to sing in the choir, a joy to him. Bill died of sarcoma cancer at his home in Custer, S.D., on May 4, 2009. He is survived by his spouse, Virginia ‘Ginny’; son, William (Suzanne) Myers of Duluth, Minn; daughters, Laura Garness of Baltic, S.D., Carla (Joe) Brown of Gretna, Neb., and Deborah (Peter) Vigants of Brandon, S.D.; two sisters, Dorothy Gray of Bel Alton, Md., and Barbra Roberts of North Hollywood, Calif., and 13 grandchildren. A Service of Celebration was held May 9 at Custer Lutheran Fellowship. Interment was May 8 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, S.D. The family suggests memorials  be made to Lutherans Outdoors in South Dakota, Hospice of the Hills or Custer Lutheran Fellowship.  Written condolences may be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.