Billy was born February 9, 1949, in Ogallala, NE, to Burt and Margaret "Polly" Cross. He was the third of seven children in this Cross clan. When he was young, his family moved to the Moreau River area in Perkins County. He attended school there until they bought a place near Sturgis, SD. Bill then attended school in Sturgis where he met his high school sweetheart, Sally Hardy.

Bill and Sally tied the knot on July 29, 1967, in Sturgis. The newlyweds moved to Stoneville, SD, where Bill worked for his father. Then the young couple moved to work at the 2 Rivers Ranch before moving back to Stoneville. In 1975, Bill and Sally, along with Seth and Clay, moved to the old Hardy place on Alkali. Soon after, they welcomed their little girl, Cally, to their family. The family moved to Harding County to work on Zeta White's place. After Bill's mom passed away, the Cross family moved back to the family home outside of Sturgis, where they have lived, laughed, and loved for the past 39 years.

Bill started out working at Sturgis Livestock when he was in high school, as well as breaking and training horses, which he continued to do for his entire life-time. After the family moved back to Sturgis, Bill ranched with his father and worked at Wheeler Lumber and Bridge in Whitewood, SD. This is where he became skilled in welding. In 1985, Bill opened up his welding and repair shop at the family home. For the last 22 years, Bill and his son, Clay, have been running CMW/EquiRacks.

Family was everything to Bill. He and his beautiful bride celebrated 50 years of marriage on July 29, 2017. Although he may not have always showed how deep his affection was, he loved his children and grandchildren and was very proud of them and their accomplishments. No matter how busy Bill was, he never missed one of Seth or Clay's football games or Cally's dance recitals or volleyball or softball games. He made sure to carry on the Grandpa/Grandkid trail ride tradition. He spent many wonderful summers camping and riding with his grandkids. He taught his kids many life lessons through 4-H and high school rodeo and pushed them to excel in anything they tried. Bill was very active in his kid's rodeo careers. He loved hazing for his boys and anyone else at the rodeo he could assist to make sure they had a "good shot" at their steer. He was very proud to hold goats for his daughter or push a calf.

Bill could fix anything. Whenever something broke or needed repaired, he would think about it and figure it out. He was able to figure out problems from household to machinery, to ranching, to kids. If there was a problem, Bill always tried to handle it.

He was a member of the Sturgis Rodeo Booster Club from 1984-1994, and was a State Director of the High School Rodeo Association from 1984-1995. Through their kids in high school rodeos and 4-H rodeos, they got to go to many places and meet many people that became life-long friends.

Bill had a way with people. He made an impression on everyone he met. His nieces and nephews couldn't get enough of Uncle Bill, no matter how gruff they thought he was. He may look tough on the outside, but he had a huge, soft heart. Everyone remembers his big smile, twinkling eyes, and unforgettable laugh and how he could sit and tell stories for hours.

Bill had many interests in his life. He loved the land and hunting, team roping on Nose, playing guitar, and dancing the night away with his favorite partner, Sally. He enjoyed Dutch oven cooking, although he never did master the cleaning aspect of that. Bill loved horses and had a way with them like no other. Early in their marriage, his father-in-law, Glen, got Bill interested in Polo and a short time later invited him to join the Western South Dakota Buckaroos. Bill only missed one Buckaroo ride in the 47 years since that invitation, and that was this year. Bill served on the board of directors for almost two decades, with a term as president of the organization. Bill was a true Buckaroo, an old cowboy soul born over a century too late.

Billy Burt Cross, 68, Sturgis, died Saturday, September 30, 2017, in Rochester, MN.

Bill is survived by his wife, Sally, and their three children, Seth (Jeanie), Clay, and Cally Cross; his grandkids, Terrisa (Brandon) Henry, Kim (Doug) Neely, Brian Lamphere, Randi Cross, Cooper Cross, Kayla Cross, Carson Cross, Cassidy Cross, Jake Baxley, and Katelyn Baxley; his great-grandkids, Aspen Henry, Brecken Henry, and Easton Neely; his brothers and sisters, Eugene (Darla) Cross, Aloma (Don) Willey, Shelley Cross, Cary Cross Deane, Burt (Cheryl) Cross, and Carla (Mark) Calistro; his mother-in-law, Jerry Hardy; brother-in-law, Bill (Sally) Hardy; sister-in-law, Jan Lamphere; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Billy Jeb; his parents, Burt and Polly Cross; and father-in-law, Glen Hardy.

Bill never gave up the fight and kept the faith that he would "lick" this situation he was in. His body just got too weak to carry him through. He passed on with his family by his side.

A memorial has been established for a Western SD Buckaroo High School Rodeo Scholarship.

Visitation will be Thursday, October 5, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 6, 2017, at the Sturgis Community Center Theater. Burial will follow at Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis.