William "Bill" Roger Naugle - Custer

April 29, 1944 - January 11, 2020

William "Bill" Naugle passed quietly away Saturday, January 11th,
2020, at the Regional Senior Care facility in Custer. Bill lost his third
and final battle 'with cancer after surviving and thriving for three years
with incurable liver cancer. Bill had battled cancer before with a
salivary gland tumor and removal of a kidney. He is preceded in death
by his parents, John and Elizabeth Naugle and his brothers Robert (Bob),
Custer, and Jack, Rapid City.

Bill is survived by his wife Clara, Custer, daughter Beth Botts and her
husband Mike Botts of Hyannis, Nebraska, and son Mark and his wife
Becky Hove of Custer. Beth and Mike are successful ranchers in
Nebraska while Mark and Becky work for the Custer School District.
Becky serves as the school nurse, and Mark is the district superintendent.

Bill was born in California but spent most of his life in Custer, South
Dakota. After graduating from Custer High School in 1962, Bill and
Clara lived a short time in Hot Springs before returning to raise a family
in Custer. Bill and Clara (Wellman) Naugle were wed in February of
1964 and enjoyed fifty-five years of marriage.

Bill spent thirty-eight years as a lineman and serviceman for Black Hills
Energy. He enjoyed many long-lasting friendships with his colleagues at
"Black Hills Power and Light."

He was proud of volunteering on the Custer Fire Department and
helping to create the Custer Ambulance Service. Many hours were spent
at the firehall prepping the equipment for both the fire and ambulance
crews. He 'was proud to follow in his brothers', Bob and Jack's,
footprints by being a longtime member of the Custer Volunteer Fire
Department.

Aside from his family, Bill's pride and joy were his cars. Bill was an
enthusiast of all cars, but Corvettes were his passion. Bill loved to tell
non-Vette owners that he could hear their steel-bodied cars "Rust during
the night!" While that was never scientifically proven, Bill gave himself
many laughs with that line! Bill and Clara have owned two of their
Corvettes, both 1961 convertibles, for well over fifty years.

Bill and Clara would take their Vettes all around the country for
Corvette Rallies and car shows. The Naugles won many times the prize
for driving their 1961 Corvette the longest distance to the show. Bill
chuckled w-hen people were amazed by his car and would say, "You
drove that all the way from South Dakota!!??"

Bill and Clara were also very active in local car shows. They helped to
organize dozens of car shows in the Custer area and were long-time
members of the Black Hills Corvette club, with Bill serving a stint as
president.

Motorcycles were also a hobby for Bill, "with lots of time spent riding on
the road and in the woods. Bill didn't want to play in the sandlot with his
kids, so instead, he went on hundreds of hours of rides with them
through the years. A favorite event was the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Hill Climb, which he competed in several times.

Many memorable family and friend moments occurred while camping
and motorcycling riding at Camp Remington. Many, many great days
and nights were spent riding, fishing, and telling stories around the
campfire.

Bill and Clara spent many enjoyable hours at the Custer YMCA. At
8 :00 AM most mornings, you could find them at the "Y" visiting and
"working out." The highlight of the week was their Friday morning
after-workout breakfast group. Bill enjoyed spending time with this
group and looked forward to each Friday.

Meeting new friends was a gift of Bill' s. He was friendly and was one
of those types of people who met a new friend each time he talked to
someone new. Bill possessed a kind soul and was always one to chip in
and help out whenever it was needed, and he enjoyed being a helping
hand to all he knew. Bill spent the last three years of his life being
extremely positive about his condition and diagnosis and being grateful
for each day that he had.

In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund in Bill's name has been established
at the Custer School District. Donations will be used to help a deserving
Custer student with post-high school education expenses.

Celebration of Bill's life will be held 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 16, 2020,

at Chamberlain McColley's Funeral Home in Custer with Rev. Dustin Barlett

and Barb Paulsen officiating.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley's

Funeral Home in Custer.