William Lee Thielen passed away on August 12, 2023 after a heart breaking cancer diagnosis just a couple months ago.  He was born April 18, 1933 to Joe and Nellie Thielen in Custer, South Dakota. Bill was one of eight children, he had four brothers and three sisters.

Bill served two years in the Army and eight years in the Reserves.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy of 58 years, children, Todd (Ricky) Thielen of Gillette, Wyoming and Cathy Harper of Rapid City, Sherry Dale of Watkinsville, Georgia and Nancy's children, Steve Petersen of Gordon, Nebraska and Jerri Petersen of Box Elder, SD. Four grandchildren, Tyler Thielen, Alex Harper, Maxenzi Harper and Christopher Dale, two great granddaughters, Lumen Harper and Addie Hvam.  He is also survived by his three sisters, Marie, Irene and Laura and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill loved to play golf and enjoyed countless days golfing with his son and golf buddies.  He had two Hole in Ones in his lifetime, one at the Elks and the other at Meadowbrook.  He and Nancy spent several winters traveling to Texas in their 5th wheel.  He enjoyed lots of golf courses in Texas, as well. They met and made so many friends on these travels.  He also was an avid rockhound throughout his life.

He was a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union 192. He recently received recognition for 65 years in the Union. As a plumbing and heating contractor he over saw many of the building of businesses and homes here in Rapid City and Ellsworth Airforce Base.  He traveled to Omaha to work in the same trade at the Nuclear Power Plant, Wisconsin Paper Mills along with refineries in Minnesota, Billings, and Gillette.  He worked at Mellgren Plumbing for 15 years and later, operated Dakota Plumbing for years here in Rapid City.

A private family service and burial will be at Black Hills National Cemetery.