Billey Gene Hudson of Lead, South Dakota passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 1, 2026. He was 93. Billey was born January 23rd, 1933, in Lakeside, Nebraska to Orville and Marion Hudson. He graduated from High School and then joined the United States Air Force in 1952. He served with honor in many assignments around the world, with a brief stop in Vietnam during the war and received many honors. While stationed in Germany he met and married the love of his life, Hildegard Artner. Together they were stationed in many beautiful areas including England and France. After being stationed abroad for several years, they moved back to the states and settled in Alaska before Billey’s retirement in 1972. After his retirement they settled outside Lead and Deadwood in the Maitland area. Together they raised two wonderful daughters. After Billey’s retirement, he worked logging in the Black Hills with his brother and then was hired by the City of Deadwood and after a few years became Deadwood’s Public Work’s Director for many years.

 Billey loved fishing, hunting and collecting antique guns and coins. He knew almost everything there was to know about types and calibers of guns and enjoyed passing his knowledge on to his family and friends. He was also a wonderful mechanic and could fix just about anything. He loved to save and collect pieces and parts, and you could always count on him to have whatever was needed to fix whatever was broken. He loved to share stories about his time in the military and about his time in Alaska, hunting and fishing. He also loved spending time with family and especially his grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. 

Billey is survived by his daughter, Kathy (Todd) Luze of Lead, grandchildren Amanda (Kyle) Morrison, Miranda (Jon) Brown, Tammy (Paul) Brown, Sean Knittle, and great grandchildren, Aubree Morrison, Emilie Morrison, Wesley Morrison, Alyssa Roberson, Brayden Andrew Stevens, Desert Starr Halbert, September Sky Halbert, Triston Rudolph Knittle and Jennifer Groves and great-great grandchildren, A.J. Scheffelman. He is also survived by his sister Barbara Grimes, brother Arthur (Julia) Hudson, sister Mary-Ann Grimes and brother Larry Hudson.

Billey was preceded in death by his wife Hildegard, his parents Marion and Orville, daughter Trudy Knittle, granddaughter Desi Knittle; siblings Dick Hudson, Wanda Herbel, Glenda Struder, Virginia Sonnenfelt and Gloria Horst. The family would like to thank everyone who touched Billey’s life and extended well wishes. Services will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2026 at at the Northern Hills Baptist Church in Deadwood with inurnment at the Black Hills National Cemetery at 2:30.