RAPID CITY- William C. "Bill" Kahler, 65, died at home on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer. Bill was born to Ralph and Imogene (Cornett) Kahler in Tilden, NE on April 18, 1951. Bill was the kind of man boys hope to become and old men wish they could have been. He attended school in Winner, SD and graduated from there in 1969. During his school years, Bill worked for his father at the Outlaw Trading Post after school and weekends.

He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1971 ,serving in Guam and at Ellsworth Air Force Base.   Bill married Debra Ducheneaux in 1971 and they had three children; Sherry, Mike and Don. They were divorced in 1981. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, Bill returned to Ellsworth and worked in civil service at the Waste Water Treatment Plant for over 25 years and spent his remaining working years in medical logistics at EAFB until his retirement in 2008 after 37 years in civil service.

He met Starr Skyberg in 1983 while he was a patient of Dr. Slingsby's, where she was a nurse. They married in 1988 and had many wonderful years together.

Bill loved singing and playing the guitar. He loved boating, fishing and camping at Angostura Reservoir with family and friends. He liked to snow ski and especially like to pheasant hunt with Starr, his sons and grandsons. After retirement, golf and bowling were a big part of his life and he made many new great friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Starr, daughter, Sherry, sons, Mike and Don, step daughter, Angela Orr and her husband, Dennis, grandsons, James and Ross Kahler, Darren Kerfont and Travis Orr, great grandson, Treyton Orr, brothers; Tim Kahler and his wife, Louise and Terry Kahler.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at 11:00am, Monday, April 3, 2017 at the Fountain Springs Community Church at 2100 N. Plaza Dr. with Pastors Donny Williams and Chris Swarthout officiating.

Inurnment of his ashes will be at 12:30pm at Black Hills National Cemetery with military honors.