William Theodore Voss II, 89, formerly of Pierre, passed away peacefully at his son’s home in Gering, Nebraska, April 5, 2018.

A memorial service is planned for Friday, April 27, 2 p.m., at Lutheran Memorial Church in Pierre, with fellowship and inurnment following. Pastor Alex Haines will officiate.

Bill was born on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 1928, to William T. and Catherine (Saur) Voss in Clark, South Dakota. His father was killed in a boating incident on Lake Kampeska in 1932 while he was a child, leaving him to be raised by his mother and three sisters. 

He spent his summers with his uncle doing farm work. He graduated from Clark High School in 1946. He had signed up for the Army while World War II was in progress, and served with the 16th Military Police Company at Ladd Field near Fairbanks, Alaska. In addition to administrative work, he was responsible for tracking down soldiers going AWOL in the minus 65-degree temperatures. He was honorably discharged as a corporal in February 1948 as a World War II veteran.

The GI Bill enabled William to attend South Dakota State University, and he graduated with a B.S. in Ag Economics in 1952. Bill joined the South Dakota Department of Highways in Pierre May of 1952, serving 37 years until retirement. At the peak of his career, Voss served as executive director of the Division of Research & Planning for the South Dakota Department of Transportation. Bill was married to Odette O’Neal in March 1954 and they were just shy of being married 50 years before her death in January 2004. The couple had three children — Melanie, Karen and Billy. Their daughter Karen died in infancy, and Melanie and Billy grew up in Pierre.

Bill loved gardening, league bowling, pheasant hunting, photography and traveling epic drives across the country, like his 2005 drive to Yellow Knife, Canada. Bill recently lived in Gering, Nebraska, for five years in the home of his son, Rev. William O. Voss.

Survivors include his daughter Melanie (Larry) Betlach, Brookings and his son William O. (Winnie) Voss of Gering, Nebraska. Most prominent in his life were his beloved granddaughters Libby (Jason) Minter, Alex (Greg Pederson) Betlach, and Janie Voss. Great grandchildren are Brilee, Tucker, Jaxton, Madison, Brianna and Katlyn. Also surviving Bill is his sister Kathleen Turner, Rapid City.

Preceding him in death were his parents, wife, sisters Ruth and Betty, and daughter Karen.