William Walter Pond, Jr., 81, died Monday, October 16, 2017 at Hillcrest Nursing Home in Hawarden, IA. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Saturday, October 21 at Beresford Zion United Methodist Church in Beresford, SD. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM Friday, October 20 at Wass Funeral Home in Beresford, SD with a prayer service at 6:30 PM.


William Pond Jr. was born May 9, 1936, in Yankton SD, the son of Velma Sadie (Garvie) and William Walter Pond. He graduated High School in Yankton, SD. He retired from the Norfolk and Southern Railway after 33 years in Decatur IL.


After retirement, Bill returned to South Dakota where he lived in Yankton, Menno and Alcester. He enjoyed playing cards, watching old western shows, listening to his music, going to auctions and collecting Indian and Oriental antiques.


Bill is survived by his sons, Chad (Cathi) Pond, Alcester, SD, Tim (Julie) Pond, Aberdeen, SD, Bill (Sveta) Pond, Decatur, IL, and Scott (Lori) Pond, Decatur, IL; his daughter, Stacey (Matt) Bryan, Decatur, IL; 11 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Wilma Davis and Sharon Palmer, both from the Minneapolis, MN area.


He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 grandchildren; 2 brothers, Don Zell and James Pond, and 3 sisters Rosemary Lafrentz, JoAnn Winckler and Judy Wescott.