Mass of Christian Burial for William "Bill" Sherwood will be at 10:30 AM (CT), Thursday, December 21, 2023, at the St. Bernard's Catholic Church in McLaughlin. Burial will be in the McLaughlin City Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will begin at 6:00 PM (CT), Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at Kesling Funeral Chapel with a Rosary to begin at 7:00 PM (CT). William passed away, Monday, December 18, 2023, in Mobridge.

William Sherwood Jr. was born on December 27, 1939, at Fort Yates, ND to William A & Helen "Midge" (Mathison) Sherwood.  Bill and his mom lived with her parents, Martin and Julia Mathison in Minneapolis while his dad was in the service.  When his dad got out of the service, the family moved to South Dakota.  His most vivid memory of time spent in Minneapolis was that they had indoor plumbing, electricity and a furnace, there were no such luxuries once they moved to South Dakota.  Upon moving to South Dakota, Bill Sr. and Midge had three more children, Gregory Raymond, Candace Kathleen and Melinda Marie.

Bill attended Wakpala School, graduating May 19, 1958.  Following graduation Bill attended Michigan State University, going from a class of 5, to 25,000+ students.  Bill then transferred to Dickinson State College to be closer to home.

Bill and Victoria C Keller began dating the summer of 1959, they married on June 4, 1960, in McLaughlin. Following their marriage, Bill worked for Beckman Construction, having a hand in building the Grand River bridge.  During this time, two daughters, Michealle and Denise, were born.  Acknowledging the need for work, Bill and Vicki moved to California where Bill was employed by Aerojet-General Corp in the research and development department as an engineering assistant.  February 1964, wanting to be closer to South Dakota and family, Bill and Vicki moved back to Fort Yates where Bill was hired as a BIA police officer.  He attended the first Indian Police Academy in Roswell, New Mexico where he received many commendations and received his diploma.  During his time with the police force, Bill and Vicki had three more children, Steven, Dennis and Sue.  Bill was assigned to the Yankton Reservation to help establish a tribal police force there.  The family lived in Fort Yates, ND, Wakpala, SD, Greenwood, SD before settling in McLaughlin, SD.

After eight years as a police officer, Bill chose to resign and go to work for Indian Health Service.  February 1972 began a twenty-four-year career as an Environmental Health Tech at the I H S Clinic in McLaughlin.  During his tenure at I H S, Bill took several Jr/Sr level classes with the CDC, attended a couple quarters of classes at East Tennessee College, a summer quarter at Ferris State in Michigan and numerous work-related workshops on environmental topics.  He believed one could never get enough education.  July 1975, Bill and Vicki had their sixth child, William "B".  Bill worked at the McLaughlin I H S clinic until 1991 when he transferred to the Pierre District Office where he managed environmental health staff on four reservations.  While working full-time at Indian Health Center, Bill also ranched with his dad and brother.   Bill retired from Indian Health Service in January 1996.

Bill was not a successful retiree, he returned to work at the McLaughlin Clinic under a CDBG block grant program.  When funds ran out for the block grant, Bill went to work for the Tribal Health Department as a Tribal Sanitarian, when the Tribal Health Director left, the tribal chairman appointed him as the Tribal Health Director.  He served in this position until he retired.

Vicki was diagnosed with lung cancer and Bill was diligent in his care for her until her passing in 2005, acting as her caregiver and chauffeur.

Bill married Deb Laundreaux at Norway Lutheran Church in Glenham, SD on February 17, 2007.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Deborah Sherwood, McLaughlin, SD; Sons, Steven Sherwood (Billie Jo), Highmore, SD, Dennis Sherwood, McLaughlin; daughters, Michealle  Sherwood, McLaughlin, SD, Denise  (Leonard) Feist, Newcastle, WY, Sue (Shannon) Kvarness, Selby, SD, step-daughter, Steph (Tim) Holzer, Mobridge, SD; brother, Greg Sherwood, Wakpala, ND; sister, Candy Sherwood, Mandaree, ND; Grandchildren, Zane Sherwood (Billi Jo Olson), Wendy Sherwood, Brandy (Brady) Faehnrich, Dusty (John) Helland, Chance Heid, Melissa (Tom Cornia) Heid, Ty (Kylene)Heid, Logan (Deidra) Heid, Luke (Anna) Jantzen, Amanda (Jesse) Lesmeister, Jeremy Feist, Kailee Webb, Kenna Webb, Kaitlin Holzer; great-grandchildren, Allister Sherwood, Dalton (Peyton) Faehnrich, B. Jack Faehnrich, Gracie Faehnrich, Rian Helland, Lexes Helland, Jonas Helland, Oliver Helland, Zachary Stout, Madison Stout, Kayden Heid, Charlotte "Charley" Mahaffey, Khloe Cornia, Kyra McLean, Addie McLean, Sydnee Heid, Kimber Heid, Maicee Heid, Mykal Heid, Laurel Lesmeister, Granger Lesmeister; great-great grandchildren, Graham Faehnrich and Gray Faehnrich.

William is preceded in death by his first wife Victoria (Keller) Sherwood; son, William S.J. Sherwood III; his parents, William Sr. & Helen "Midge" Sherwood; his sister, Melinda Sherwood; his great-grandson Kingston Heid.