William โBillโ Randall Grooms was born on September 11, 1951 in Alliance, NE to Henry Grooms and Thelma (Swallow) Groce. William crossed the prairie to the other side on October 15, 2024 at his home near Sharpโs Corner, SD.
Bill is survived by his daughters, Luwana (Louie) Janis, Amber Neal, Shirae Pourier, and Rachel TwoBulls-Grooms; his sons, Rob Mendoza, Gilbert (Shannon) Grooms, and Aaron (Lindsey) Grooms; sisters, Theresa Hinn and Nancy Fletcher; and brother Wade Allison; grandchildren: Kayana, Kailyn, Julie, Tatum, Cade, Griffin, Eva, Henry, Lyla, Elsie, Jerome, Elijah,
Brianna, Braylee, Bryssa, Mila, and Baby Jake., and great grandchildren.
At an early age, Bill found a love for horses that shaped the rest of his life. When he was a little boy, the local milkmanโs horse disappeared and was later discovered in Billโs family barn. From then on, he began rodeoing across the West. By the 70s, he began team roping with Curtis Coomes. They won numerous rodeos together and won the Badlands Circuit in 1977. He tried his hand at bull riding, but at the end of the day, he was a roper. He valued smart horses and made sure that his sisters and kids always had something to ride.
Bill had many friends from all walks of life. He could talk for hours about bucking horses, horse
trading, spurs, and tying knots. He was an expert on antique bits and spurs and the history of stock and rodeo. He was an elite storyteller and had plans to write a book about bucking horses and tales of the Wild West. He was also an artisan who made horsehair belts and rawhide drums, and he harvested thรญลpsiลla and currents every summer.
In his later years, Bill was undergoing a series of health complications that deterred his quality of life. He still maintained a positive attitude while leaning a lot on his close friends. His family wants to thank everyone who made sure he was going to his appointments and taking his medicine. He will be remembered for his witty sense of humor, his charitable spirit, and his wild stories.
Bill was preceded in death by his mother, Thelma (Swallow) Groce; step-father, Marvin Groce; father, Henry Grooms; paternal grandparents Gona and Frank Grooms; maternal grandparents Louise and Walter Swallow; and sons, Lex Grooms and Jacob Pourier.
Pallbearers will be Charlo Deal, Sanford Deal, Terry Dillabaugh, Ron Fisher, Mike Heesacker, Jess Merrill, Shawn Merrill, JL Trueblood, Dale Vocu, Steve Woods
Honorary pallbearers will be Chane and Moira Coomes, Melvin and Tudy Swallow, Don and Lyla Hutchinson, Delbert and Courtney Hicks, Carl and Ginny Swallow, CL Holloway, Art Ruff, Will Ward, Brian Kindle, Francy Martin, Dene Pourier, Karson Vandermay, Damon Bass, Charging Thunder Family, Jacobs Family, Heesacker Family, Vocu Family, Wilson Family, Pippert Family, Three Mile Rodeo Creek Company, Muddy Creek Rodeo Family, Gunville Rodeo Family, and so many more of his Friends and Relatives.
Wake Services: One night wake services starting at 4:00 PM, Friday, November 1, 2024 at the Rockyford School Gym in Rockyford, SD with evening services at 7:00 PM.
Funeral Services: 11:00 AM, Saturday, November 2, 2024 at the Rockyford School Gym, Rockyford, SD
Officiating: Roland Bradford
Burial Services: St. Mary Magdalene Cemetery, Rockyford, SD
Arrangements entrusted with the Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD.