Bill Rosencranz

Bill Rosencranz, age 88 of Spearfish, died Sunday November 5, 2023 at the Spearfish Canyon Healthcare Center.

A graveside service will take place 10:30am Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche.  There will be no visitation.  Arrangements are with Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche.  Friends may leave written condolences and view a video tribute online at: www.LeveringtonFH.com

William Rosencranz was born April 8, 1935 in Deadwood, South Dakota.  He was the son of Frank and Susie (Farnsworth) Rosencranz.  Bill grew up on the family ranch near Piniele, Montana, where he attended country school through the 8^th grade.  On November 24, 1962, Bill was united in marriage to Ruth Bickerdyke in Belle Fourche.  To this union five children were born: Susan, Mary, Tim, Todd, and Ted.  Following their marriage, Bill and Ruth lived in Carter County Montana, later moving to Sundance Wyoming.  Ever since Bill was a young boy he worked at many ranches located in SE Montana and the western South Dakota region.  For several years, Bill and Ruth lived and ranched at the Bickerdyke ranch near Capitol Montana.  In 1975 they moved to Spearfish, and in 1989 they returned to the ranch and lived there until 2008 when they moved back to Spearfish.  Besides ranch work, Bill also delivered milk for Gate City Dairies.  He also was a heavy equipment operator for Harding County for a time. 

Bill served on several boards, including the Little Missouri Lutheran Church, Carter County Stockgrowers, Weed Board, and he was a brand inspector.  He loved rodeos his whole life, and back in his younger years he would enter a rodeo as a contestant from time to time.  He was pretty proud of his 1960 Rodeo Cowboys Association membership card.  In his later years, when he couldn’t attend a rodeo, he was devoted to his television whenever a rodeo was broadcasted..  Bill loved horses and cattle and sheep and everything the ranch life had to offer.  For the past couple years, he has been  a resident at the Spearfish Canyon Healthcare Center.  At first it was difficult for him to be there, but thanks to a great staff, they made him feel welcome and he made new friends there and it became a good place to be. 

Bill is survived by his daughters, Susan (Daniel) Proefrock of Belle Fourche, Mary (Tom) Riley of Belle Fourche; sons, Tim of Whitewood, Ted (Stephanie) of Beulah WY; sister, Gladys (Tom) Armstrong of Great Falls, Montana; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Ruth in 2012; son, Todd; and 12 siblings, Clara Freier, Art, Ernest, Morris, Pete, James, Frank, Betty Brownfield, Alvina Study, Virgil (infant), Jerry, and Francis.