William Dean "Bill" Cornish, 73, died at his residence in Phoenix, AZ on Wednesday, January 7, 2015.

Memorial services will be Friday, January 23, 2015 at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with inurnment to follow at the Black Hills National Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Sturgis Veterans Honor Guard.

Bill was born April 8, 1941 at Ainsworth, NE, to Claude E. and Violet B. (Whitcomb) Cornish.

He lived on the family farm near Mission, SD until joining the US Navy on January 24, 1964. He served aboard the USS Arneb and was honorably discharged on March 16, 1966.

Bill married Jo Ruthven Flint at Pierre, SD on May 31, 1968.

He married Lois Price Scofield on January 3, 1974 in Tucson, AZ.

Bill referred to himself as "A jack of all trades": which included ranch hand, cowboy in the Arizona mountains, pipe fitter, pole climber, heavy equipment operator, over the road truck driver, oil field truck dispatcher and driver, store clerk, prison guard, and mental health/drug rehab counselor. He worked in Arizona, California, Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Bill had a steady, easy going, calming personality that family and friends relied on to be a help in any situation. He loved to play cards and be with family and was known for always coming out ahead in a poker game. He worked hard to provide for his family and ALWAYS put his family first in decisions that he made. He treated people fairly, with respect, and lived by The Golden Rule.

He enjoyed fishing and hunting with his sons and grandchildren, once having caught a 13 foot sailfish. In recent years his greatest pleasure was family gatherings, camping on the Mogollon Rim in Arizona, and going home to South Dakota in the summer.

Survivors include his wife, Lois Cornish, Phoenix, AZ; children, Christine Dawn Cornish Melton, Littlerock, CA, Casey C. Cornish, Tickfaw, Louisiana; Justin W. Cornish, Phoenix, AZ; M. Bentley Streat, Hayes, VA, Zane L. Scofield, Phoenix, AZ, Adela K. Scofield Veitch, Phoenix, AZ, James H. Scofield, Belle Fourche, SD; and 8 grandchildren; sister, Claudia (Rolland) Sharkey; also nieces, nephews and numerous family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a younger sister, Phyllis.

A Memorial will be established in his name.