May 24, 1957 – July 12, 2025
Funeral services for William Rivers, 68, of Eagle Butte were held on Friday, July 25, 2025 at the Eagle Butte Bingo Hall. Burial followed at the LaPlant Congregational Cemetery. William passed away Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Monument Health in Rapid City.
William Rivers was born May 24, 1957 at the Old Agency Hospital, to Alma (Bird Necklace) Rivers and Alvin Rivers Sr.
Bill, Billy or Wild Bill grew up in La Plant. His family then relocated to Eagle Butte and Bill graduated from high school in Eagle Butte in 1976. He was proud to be a direct descendant of Chief Puffing Eyes.
Bill loved horses and he broke many of them. He was a carpenter and loved gardening. In 1982, his son Justin Christopher was born, next his daughters Sonya Leigh and Erica Faye.
In 2005, he married the love of his life, Sylvia Sharp Butte, and he loved her children like they were his own especially Billy.
Bill loved to hang with a lot of people that were on the street and the people in the New Hope Shelter where he resided. He had a few cats that he loved and claimed. Bill was often on the road with Roberto and Marie and visit his wife in the care home in Pierre.
Bill loved his daughters and always checked up on Sonya weekly. He was a good dad and grandfather. He will be truly missed, as he was a changed man for the better and grew to be a kind man.
He is survived by his daughters, Sonya Rivers Brown of La Plant and Erica Rivers of Martin; grandson DJ Bissonette (Charger) of La Plant; granddaughters Claire and Sophia Pearman of Martin; siblings Karen Rivers, Patrick Rivers, and Arnold Rivers, all of Eagle Butte, Debbie Provincial of Flandreau, Carla Rivers, Colleen Rivers and Julia Rivers of Sioux Falls, and Myron Rivers of Montana; and other relatives and friends.
William (Bill) is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Elizabeth LeBeau and William Rivers; paternal grandparents; mother Alma (Bird Necklace) Rivers and Father Alvin Rivers; sisters Pamela Rivers and Denise (Lavon) Two Crow Rivers; brothers Alan Rivers and Junior Rivers; son Justin Christopher; niece Pamela Rivers; and nephew Alan Two Crow; and all relatives that went on before him.