Willard John ‘Bill’ Gabert, 87, Rapid City, passed away Saturday, July 22, 2017 at his home in Rapid City.

Willard was born December 29, 1929 to John and Vesta (Gordon) Gabert in Aberdeen, SD. His mother passed away when he was a baby and he was raised by his grandparents, William and Erma Gabert. Attending country schools and growing up in the 1930’s, Bill was a farmer at heart. He helped plant and harvest the seeds. As a young man, he helped harvest the fields of Kansas, Oklahoma and South Dakota. He worked construction for many years until he was called into the service. Willard served his country in the US Army during the Korean Conflict being honorably discharged October 13, 1953.

When he was young, Bill played first base on his hometown baseball team. He enjoyed watching baseball and football on television, and he also loved to fish and hunt. Bill fished the waters of Montana, Wyoming, Alaska and the Missouri River of South Dakota where he would fish off of the bridge at Flandreau. He shot two bear in Idaho and hunted the pheasants and deer of South Dakota.

Bill had a big garden in his spare time giving his harvest to friends and family. He canned beans, tomatoes and made beet pickles.

He blessed everyone with his organ playing and made time for a county commission run. Bill loved to dance with his longtime partner, Devota and they won a waltz contest in 2005.

Bill and Mary Comback were married in Miller, SD in 1964, bringing two families together; Mary’s two boys, Ron and Jerry and Bill’s two children, Jerry and Daryls. Bill and Mary traveled from the East coast to the West Coast in their motor home, and never without their fishing poles and dancing boots.

Bill owned and operated his own concrete company for many years, in western South Dakota. He was a doer and a goer and will be missed.

He leaves behind, his son Jerry and wife Nancy Gabert and family; daughter Daryls and family; step-son Jerry Page; grandchildren; great grandchildren; his partner and soulmate Devota Thorn and her family; numerous other family and many friends. He is preceded in death by his wife Mary and step-son Ron Pierce.

Cards may be sent to the Gabert Family, 6409 S. Crane Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57103.