William H. “Bill” Goodheart, 79, of Beloit, Kansas and former resident of Bunker Hill and Russell, Kansas and Rapid City, South Dakota, died on Friday, January 6, 2012 in the long term care center at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit.

Bill was born on Wednesday, November 16, 1932, in Hays, Kansas, the son of Ralph William and Edith Louise (Hatton) Goodheart.  He grew up on the family farm north of Bunker Hill and graduated from Bunker Hill High School in 1950.  After high school he was drafted into the United States Army in 1953.  He rose to the rank of Corporal and was a military policeman when he left active duty in 1955.  He met and fell in love with Georgia Faye Morrison, They were united in marriage on September 22, 1956 at his parent's home near Bunker Hill.  From this union Bill and Faye were blessed with a son William Todd Goodheart.  Bill worked as a mechanic for Berry Tractor in Russell and for Van-Pak Construction in Prairie View.  In 1965 he became the first Diesel Mechanics instructor for the newly formed North Central Kansas Vocational Technical School in Beloit.  The family moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1970 where Bill started as the technical manager for Foster-Bell, the statewide Caterpillar dealer in South Dakota.  As the company changed owners, first to Kearns Machinery, and later to Butler Machinery, Bill became the service manager at the company's store in Rapid City and later the Technical Communicator.  He retired in 1997.  He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Beloit and was a member of the Mended Hearts Support Group and the V.F.W. Post in Rapid City, South Dakota.  He and Faye also worked as administrative volunteers for the Pennington County Sheriff's department in Rapid City.  In his retirement, he enjoyed spending time in his greenhouse, gardening, woodworking, tinkering and fixing just about anything and everything and watching Denver Broncos Football.  He and Faye enjoyed being "snowbirds" for several years.  Due to declining health, Bill and Faye moved back to Beloit in 2010 to be closer to family.  Bill has been a resident of Hilltop Lodge and Mitchell County Residential Care Center since that time. 

Bill is survived by his wife Faye of the home, son Todd Goodheart and wife Lisa of Glen Elder, Kansas.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Robert Goodheart.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, January 12th, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell with Pastor James Wagner officiating.  Burial will follow at the Bunker Hill Cemetery in Bunker Hill, Kansas.  Viewing will be from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M., Wednesday, January 11, 2012, at the mortuary.  Family will be present to greet guests from 9 A.M. to 11 A.M., the day of the service at the mortuary.  Memorials may be given to the Solomon Valley Hospice and can be sent in care of the mortuary.   Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.