Wilmer Eugene Oney, 82, Rapid City, died Friday, October 9, 2009, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. He was born in a dirt-floored cabin on Bear Creek near Wanblee on March 21, 1927, to Clifford and Minnie (Craven) Oney. He was an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. His maternal grandparents were Kate Bald Eagle, Cornelius Augustus Gus Craven, who had the first registered brand in South Dakota, Mary Shields Six Fingers, and John Sechler. Willie spent his early years in Wanblee and Interior. As a young boy still so small he had to stand on wooden crates to reach the table, Willie learned to shoot pool in a basement pool hall operated by his father in Wanblee. The family moved to the Rapid City area in 1939. Willie got a part time job setting pins at the Casino Bowling Alley in downtown Rapid City. He rode his bicycle to work from their home in a canyon on the south edge of town. At 17, Willie dropped out of high school, told the enlistment officer he was 18, and joined the US Navy. He served as an aircraft mechanic and tail gunner in the Pacific Theater during World War II and ran supply missions from Guam to Japan. He was a life member of the VFW. After his discharge, Willie graduated from Rapid City High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Black Hills Teachers College. He intended to be a high school biology teacher, but instead, he accepted a job offer at the Rapid City Post Office and worked as a letter carrier for over 30 years. Willie married Evelyn Creighton Heyer on August 11, 1956. They lived in Rapid City and Black Hawk throughout their 53 years of marriage. A master pool player who once won the South Dakota State Eight-Ball Championship, Willie also loved bowling, golfing, fishing, hunting, camping, and water skiing. He and Evelyn were charter members of the Black Hills Ramblers, the Rapid City Chapter of the Good Sam Camping Club. They enjoyed camping trips to Florida, Georgia, Alaska, Arizona, California, and elsewhere. Gentle, good humored, keenly intelligent, practical and innovative, Willie made the best of every situation. He loved telling stories about the past, loved living in the present, and looked forward to the promise of the future. His unique stories fed the imagination of his listeners and brought to life the adventures and challenges of growing up in the remote Badlands of western South Dakota. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn, of Rapid City; a son, Ronald Oney and wife Sharon, of Rapid City; a daughter, Rhonda Hayes and husband Jeff, of Sioux Falls; five grandchildren, Michael Oney and wife Amanda, of Marshall, MN, Anna Kuestermeyer and husband Kevin, of Tyler, MN, Matthew Oney, St. Paul, MN, and Jenna and Josh Hayes, Sioux Falls; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Maxine Mills of Grants, NM; a brother, Norman Oney of Windsor Locks, CT; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 12, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home with Rev. Jeff Hayes officiating. Burial will follow in Black Hills National Cemetery with military honors provided by Rushmore VFW Post 1273 at the South Dakota Army National Guard. A luncheon will follow the burial at Rushmore VFW Post 1273, 402 Main St., in Rapid City. Memorial contributions will be used to fund a scholarship for a youth bowler to further their education.