William Naugle
William “Bill” Roger Naugle was born April 29, 1944, in California but spent most of his life in Custer, S.D. After graduating from Custer High School in 1962, Bill and Clara lived a short time in Hot Springs, S.D., before returning to raise a family in Custer.
Bill and Clara (Wellman) Naugle were wed in February 1964 and enjoyed 55 years of marriage.
Bill spent 38 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 50 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 when 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 motorcycle 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 a.m. 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.
Bill died Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, at Custer Regional Senior Care. He 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 was 75.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Elizabeth Naugle; and brothers, Robert (Bob) of Custer and Jack of Rapid City.
Bill is survived by his wife, Clara, of Custer; daughter, Beth (Mike) Botts of Hyannis, Neb.; son, Mark (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.
In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund has been established at 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 at 2 p.m. Jan. 16 at Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer with Rev. Dustin Bartlett and Barb Paulson officiating.