William (Bill) H. Young, 85, of Custer, SD, died July 22 at his home. He was born March 18, 1941 to William & Lorene (Neville) Young in Madison, SD. He grew up on a farm in Winfred, SD, with his brother Mark. In 1952 the family moved to Custer, SD, when his mother became a resident of Sanator for a time. He graduated from Custer High School in 1959, went on to become a multisport athlete at Black Hills State College and graduated in 1963. He also received his Masters of Education from Black Hills State in 1969. In the summer of 1966, he met his wife, Linda Poe, and they were married in September. They had four children.

Bill was a life-long high school math and science teacher and coach, who was loved and respected by his students. He taught three years in Broadus, MT, where he started the wrestling program in 1963; one year in Glendive, MT; two years in Spearfish, SD; seven years in Custer, SD; one year at New England St. Mary’s, 21 years back at Custer and five years at St. Thomas More in Rapid City, SD. During that time, he received many awards; Golden Apple Award, Regional Coaching Track Assistant Award, South Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame (2004), and the Custer High School Hall of Fame (2017). In 2021, the Custer Invitational Wrestling Tournament, which he started in 1970, was renamed the “Bill Young Invitational” to recognize Bill’s dedicated service to building the Custer wrestling program.

Bill also enjoyed many summers working for the Forest Service. For several years, he led a trails crew in the Black Elk Wilderness trails system. He spent many summers fighting wild land fires, including being a member of the Helitack crew. Bill was recognized by the state of South Dakota naming “Bill Young Day” on September 25, 2020, for 61 years of outstanding service to the state fighting wild land fires over the span of eight different decades.

Bill retired from teaching in 2004. He continued coaching middle school wrestling at Custer. He also assumed new duties with Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home and Rocky Knolls Golf Course in Custer.

He was an active member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, St. John’s Finance Committee, Pringle Fire Department, 1881 Courthouse Museum volunteer, a lifetime member of SD Coaches Association, Custer County Library Board Member, Custer Regional Hospital Board Member, Custer Youth and Alumni Foundation Board Member, and past member of NEA and SDEA.

After his semi-retirement, he enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He especially enjoyed a trip to Italy with his wife and friends from their church in 2011, an all-family trip to Kauai, Hawaii in 2012, a trip to Mexico for their daughter Kathy’s wedding in 2014, and an all-family trip to Myrtle Beach, SC, in 2025.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, sister-in-law Nancy Maynard, son-in-law Stacey Bauer, and niece, Kim (Maynard) Miiller.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Linda; children, Tracy Bauer of Rapid City, SD; Christy (Miles) Mettler of Colorado Springs, CO; Kathy Young (Bill Schaefer) of Custer, SD; and Steve (Tara) Young of Sioux Falls, SD; and grandchildren, Austin, Chandler (Olivia) and Logan Bauer; Zachary, Maria (Aric) Kedge, Matthew (Meghan) and Anna Mettler; Jessica (Matt) Goth, Katelyn (Graydon) Fritz and Jordyn Larsen (Kyle Virtue); Will, Jonah, Lucas and Ellie Young; brother Mark Young, Sioux Falls, SD; brother-in-law Frank Maynard, Hot Springs, SD; five great-grandchildren and several nephews.

Christian Funeral Vigil will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church 7:00 p.m., (Catholic Rosary at 6:00pm) Friday, July 31, 2026, with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. John’s at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 1, 2026, followed by Christian Funeral Committal at Custer Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to the Pringle Fire Department and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church to be directed toward a new and expanded gathering area.