William H. Hinker, 93, Forestburg, died Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015 at Avera Brady Health and Rehab in Mitchell.  Funeral services were Monday, Oct. 5, 2015 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mitchell.  Burial was in St. Wilfrid Catholic Cemetery in Woonsocket.  Visitation was Sunday evening at the Bittner Funeral Chapel with a scripture service.
William Hinker was born on Sept. 3, 1922 at home in Sanborn County to Henry and Mary (Eining) Hinker.  He attended Hinker School through eighth grade in Silver Creek Township.  He married Bernita Ann LaBreche on July 25, 1944 at St. Wilfrid Catholic Church in Woonsocket, and eight children were born to this union.  He farmed in Sanborn County all of his life.  They retired to Mitchell in 2013 and resided in Avera Health and Rehab until the time of his death.
Bill was a member of the Forestburg School Board for approximately 18 years.  He was also a member of Silver Creek Township Board for over 40 years, served as Deputy Sheriff for Sanborn County for 37 years and Forestburg Improvement Association member.  He was a lifelong member of the St. Wilfrid Catholic Church in Woonsocket, the Knights of Columbus and 4th Degree of Knights of Columbus.
William will be remembered for his harmonica playing and his unique style of raising popcorn.  He raised many acres of melons and helped maintain the melon stand in Aberdeen.  He loved baseball and was inducted into the SD Baseball Hall of Fame.  They called him “Wild Bill” for his love of life, hunting all day and partying all night.
Grateful for sharing his life are his wife, Bernita; his six children, Melanie (David) Blevins, Denver, Colo., Leonard (Nancy) Hinker, Fedora, Cathy (James) Hegg, Huron, Roger (Pat) Hinker, Forestburg, Tim Hinker, Forestburg, and Mark (Carol) Hinker, Mitchell, SD; sister, Marie Rankin; 13 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and one brother, Lee Hinker.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Mary; his in-laws, Guy and Edna LaBreche; daughter, Beverly; son, Anthony; son-in-law, Jerry; one brother and four sisters.