RAPID CITY - William R. "Bill" Bishop, Sr. 85, Rapid City, passed away Monday, Sept. 21, 2009 at Rapid City, Regional Hospital after a long illness.

Bill was born July 3, 1924 at Winner, SD to Theresa Wiedman Bishop and Ross L. Bishop. He lived his early years on a farm at Provo, SD. In his teens, he moved to Springfield, MO then joined the CCC's and later the U S. Navy. He served as a Gunner's Mate 1st Class on the USS Shangrala. After his discharge in February, 1944 he worked as a heavy equipment operator at Black Hills Army Depot, Igloo, SD.

In 1943 he met the love of his life, Velda I. Barton and they were married on December 24, 1945. In 1953 they bought the Newsy Nook Grocery in Provo. Bill's dad, Ross and Velda ran the store and Bill worked in the uranium mines north of Edgemont. By now, three sons had come to their family. In 1959, Velda sold the store and Bill sought work in Rapid City. He returned to Civil Service at the Post Office and retired from there in 1983. Bill and Velda traveled a lot and loved camping. In his last years, he enjoyed the Deadwood casinos and Prairie Winds Casino. He was a member of the VFW, American Legion and the DAV.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and 4 brothers, Mike, Paul, Joe and Kenneth and 4 sisters, Ruth, Vivian Virginia and Maxine. Surviving are his wife, Velda I. Bishop, Rapid City, three sons, Daniel E. Bishop and his wife, Marilyn, Portland, OR, Daryl A. Bishop and his wife, Linda, Rapid City, William R. Bishop, Jr. and his wife, Izumi, Tokyo, Japan, three grandchildren, Sophianna Bishop, Univ. of Fla., Miami, Monicamay Bishop, Tokyo, Japan, and Matthew Ross Bishop, Portland College, Portland, OR. Also surviving are two sisters, Betty Ford, Gainesville, Fla. and Jackie Wilson, Ocala, Fla. and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 2:00 to 4:00 Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009 at Osheim and Schmidt Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 1:00 P.M. Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 at the funeral home with Rev. H. B. Cleveland officiating. Burial will be at Black Hills National Cemetery with military honors by Rushmore VFW Post 1273 and the S. D. National Guard. A memorial has been established to Children's Miracle Network.