William "Billy" Everett Swesey, 86, Sturgis, died Friday, December 21, 2018, with his family by his side at the VA Black Hills Health Care Center at Fort Meade, SD.
Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 26, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, December 27, 2018, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel with Pastor Harold Delbridge officiating. Burial, with military honors, will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.
Billy Swesey was born on January 2, 1932, at Sturgis, SD, to Bill and Ella (Mettler) Swesey. He was the youngest of 3, joining brother, Fred, and sister, Francis. Billy attended school in Porcupine, and then moved to Sturgis where he attended school through the 7th grade.
In his younger years he worked in the hills, logging and skidding logs with horses. He enjoyed playing guitar and singing with family and friends. He had a deep voice when he sang.
On October 20, 1952, he married Florence Secrest. They lived in an 8 by 10 trailer house. To this marriage, two sons were born, Everett and Lee. Later they moved North of Sturgis to a bigger home.
One month after the wedding, Billy was drafted into the US Army. In the stories he told, he did not like the ship ride to Korea. He received the Purple Heart for his actions during the war.
Billy drove trucks, logged, ranched, and farmed. He enjoyed doing most anything and was a hard worker.
He enjoyed camping and fishing where there were no neighbors next to him. He also enjoyed going to all the country dances in the Sturgis area. He was a big help with Everett and Lee's 4-H and high school rodeos.
Billy enjoyed riding horses, moving cows, and camping out in Vanocker Canyon, Orman Dam, and Custer State Park. In their many years of traveling with their campers, Billy, Florence, Fred, and Sharron stopped in Nashville, TN, Colorado, New Mexico, Georgia, North Dakota, and Alaska. Everywhere he went and everything he did in life, he always had a smile on his face.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Florence Swesey; son, Lee (Jeanette) Swesey; grandson, Valyen (Tamera) Swesey; step-grandchildren, Jill (Ryan) Thompson, Amanda (Doug) Fischer, and Lee (Kim) Risser; great-grandchildren, Leilani, Macei, and McKynlei; step-great-grandchildren, Justice, Dena, Logan, and David; and sister in law, Sharron Swesey.
He was preceded in death by his son, Everett; brother, Fred; sister, Francis; and his parents.

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