William Bill Burtz, 88, of Winner, SD, passed away on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center in Winner. William James Burtz was born April 16, 1920 to Charles Christian and Julia (Hansen) Burtz on their homestead near the White River in Greenwood Township and passed from this life on Sept. 10, 2008 at Winner Regional Hospital. He was the youngest of seven children and the last surviving.

Bill attended rural grade school at North Greenwood and graduated from Witten High School in 1939. He worked on the farm with his Dad until Charlies retirement. He then formed a partnership with brothers Raymond and Earl. Along with farming and ranching, Burtz Bros. operated a Brickcrete Factory. Later the partnership was dissolved and each worked their separated farms and Bill also farmed the Bailey Farm.

Bill married a neighbor girl, Beverly, daughter of Clifford and Gertrude Bailey and they purchased the Albert Olson homestead where they raised four children. Bill was known for taking home movies of family, neighbors, floods and snow storms and showed them at local functions. In later years he wrote many stories of family and neighbors.

He took great pride in his vehicles and enjoyed farming with his tractors, raising livestock. Each spring when the plum trees were in bloom, he enjoyed taking his kids and grandkids cat fishing in the White River. His dad had told him when he was a child that was when the fish were biting. In the fall before school started, Bill would take the family on a short vacation to the Black Hills. When he was single he took his parents to Nebraska, Arizona and California to visit relatives.

In Bills older years he enjoyed riding his four wheeler around the neighborhood.

Bill accepted Jesus as his Savior and was baptized August 2, 1931 in the White River by Rev. Hans S. Wold. He became a member of the Witten Baptist church, later holding the job of trustee and helped build the present church of brickcrete and a new parsonage. Previously, Sunday School and church had been held in the rural school along with Bible School led by the American Sunday School Union.

Grateful for sharing his life are his wife, Beverly, children Dr. Steven (Carol) Burtz, Amy Schroeder, Nan (Jerry) Halvorson and Wade (Yvon) Burtz, nine grandchildren; Jennifer (Greg) Campus, Thad Schroeder, Ryan Schroeder, Mark (Stephine) Burtz, Mallory Burtz, Sally (Mike) Wischmann, Jill (Jeff) Fredricks, Eric (Nancie) Burtz, Angela (Jerrod) Neidermeir, and two great grandchildren, Hannah and Ethan Campus.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Charles and Julia Burtz and siblings, Irene (Amos) Harter, Leona (Elmer) Best, LeRoy (Florence) Burtz, Marcella (Harvey) Sterling, Raymond (Berniece) Burtz, and Earl (Marian) Burtz.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, September 13 at 11:00 a.m. at the Witten Baptist Church in Witten, SD. Burial in the Winner Cemetery.



From: Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD.

William Bill Burtz, 88, of Winner, SD, passed away on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center in Winner. William James Burtz was born April 16, 1920 to Charles Christian and Julia (Hansen) Burtz on their homestead near the White River in Greenwood Township and passed from this life on Sept. 10, 2008 at Winner Regional Hospital. He was the youngest of seven children and the last surviving.

Bill attended rural grade school at North Greenwood and graduated from Witten High School in 1939. He worked on the farm with his Dad until Charlies retirement. He then formed a partnership with brothers Raymond and Earl. Along with farming and ranching, Burtz Bros. operated a Brickcrete Factory. Later the partnership was dissolved and each worked their separated farms and Bill also farmed the Bailey Farm.

Bill married a neighbor girl, Beverly, daughter of Clifford and Gertrude Bailey and they purchased the Albert Olson homestead where they raised four children. Bill was known for taking home movies of family, neighbors, floods and snow storms and showed them at local functions. In later years he wrote many stories of family and neighbors.

He took great pride in his vehicles and enjoyed farming with his tractors, raising livestock. Each spring when the plum trees were in bloom, he enjoyed taking his kids and grandkids cat fishing in the White River. His dad had told him when he was a child that was when the fish were biting. In the fall before school started, Bill would take the family on a short vacation to the Black Hills. When he was single he took his parents to Nebraska, Arizona and California to visit relatives.

In Bills older years he enjoyed riding his four wheeler around the neighborhood.

Bill accepted Jesus as his Savior and was baptized August 2, 1931 in the White River by Rev. Hans S. Wold. He became a member of the Witten Baptist church, later holding the job of trustee and helped build the present church of brickcrete and a new parsonage. Previously, Sunday School and church had been held in the rural school along with Bible School led by the American Sunday School Union.

Grateful for sharing his life are his wife, Beverly, children Dr. Steven (Carol) Burtz, Amy Schroeder, Nan (Jerry) Halvorson and Wade (Yvon) Burtz, nine grandchildren; Jennifer (Greg) Campus, Thad Schroeder, Ryan Schroeder, Mark (Stephine) Burtz, Mallory Burtz, Sally (Mike) Wischmann, Jill (Jeff) Fredricks, Eric (Nancie) Burtz, Angela (Jerrod) Neidermeir, and two great grandchildren, Hannah and Ethan Campus.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Charles and Julia Burtz and siblings, Irene (Amos) Harter, Leona (Elmer) Best, LeRoy (Florence) Burtz, Marcella (Harvey) Sterling, Raymond (Berniece) Burtz, and Earl (Marian) Burtz.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, September 13 at 11:00 a.m. at the Witten Baptist Church in Witten, SD. Burial in the Winner Cemetery.



From: Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD.