Bill was born June 14, 1901, at St. Louis, Missouri to Ben and Della (Nauer) Burgess.  He grew up in Warrensburg, MO, and attended college in Kansas City, MO.  He Joined the army at Ft. Leavenworth, KS in 1922 and was assigned to the 4th Cavalry Horse Regiment at Old Fort Meade where he met and married Jessie Martin on October 5, 1926.  After Bill was discharged from the service he and his wife made their home and raised children in Kansas City, MO, where William was employed as a guard with Brinks, Inc.   The family moved to Sturgis in 1946.  Bill worked for many years with Dries Motors and the Sturgis Municipal Liquor Store.  Bill took great pride in his family and was a gentleman of the old school.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis, a former member of I>O>O>F> and in 1911 he was a charter member of DeMolay in Kansas City.

Grateful for sharing his life was his loving wife of 67 years, Jesse, Sturgis; and their children Gene and wife Beulah Burgess of Martin, SD; Bill Jr. and wife Karen, Chancellor, SD; Carol Anderson, Sturgis; Ramona and husband Don Strandell, Spearfis; 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.