William "Bill" Reynolds Sisson

Published in the Sundance Times Nov 2011

William “Bill” Reynolds Sisson, 87 of Belle Fourche, South Dakota, died Saturday, November 12, 2011, at his home in Belle Fourche, surrounded by his loving family.

Bill was born in the ranch home of the Sisson family just into Crook County, Wyoming, to George and Myrtle Sisson. He attended Sunnyslope School through the eighth grade and then graduated from Belle Fourche High School with the class of 1942. Bill then began studies at South Dakota School of Mines, but returned to run the ranch due to the illness of his father. He continued to run the ranch for 45 years, at which time Bill and Joan sold the ranch to son Robert and his wife Cheryl In 2006, Bill and Joan moved into Belle Fourche.

On October 2, 1951, Bill was united in marriage to Joan Muriel Harvey of Spearfish. To this union were born three children, Muriel, Robert and Elizabeth.

Bill was a lifelong member of the Congregational Church, first in rural Butte County and later with the church in Belle Fourche, SD. Bill served in many capacities in the church, both locally and in statewide positions.

Bill served 12 years on the Board of Butte Electric Co-op, and was Treasurer of this Co-op for several years. He also represented Butte Electric on the South Dakota Rural Electric Association.

Bill has been an active member of all branches of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows which he first joined in 1947. In 2010, Bill was awarded the highest honor given by the Odd Fellows, the Meritorious Service Jewel, for his contributions made to the organization.

Bill is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joan of Belle Fourche; daughter, Muriel Savage of Shasta Lake, California; son, Robert (Cheryl) Sisson of Wainwright, Oklahoma, and their son, Brian (Stacy) Ballow and daughters, Avery and Layne of Littleton, Colorado; daughter, Elizabeth (Dean) Robb of Westminster, Colorado, and their three children, daughters, Carrie and Rebecca of Westminster and son, Bradley and his wife, Esther of Rotterdam, Netherlands. Also surviving are two brothers, Cecil of Painesville, Ohio, and Paul of Yucca Valley, California, and a sister, Phyllis Eixenberger of Belle Fourche, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Lee, Kenneth, Lewis and Lowell and a sister, Nina Ash.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, November 16, 2011, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Belle Fourche with Pastor Del Neumeister officiating.

Interment followed in the Odd Fellows Section of Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Belle Fourche or Hospice of the Northern Hills.

An online guest book is available at www.klinefuneralchapel.com.