William (Bill) Harold Golden, 60, of Hartford was released to his heavenly home on Oct. 2, 2026, in Sioux Falls after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, at Central Church, 3102 W. Ralph Rogers Rd. in Sioux Falls.
Bill was born on Dec. 31, 1965, in Tucson, Arizona. He attended Marana High School, graduating in 1984. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 1989 and earned his law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1991. Bill practiced law in Canton before serving as a deputy attorney general. He later became chief legal counsel for Lincoln County and ultimately joined the Sioux Falls City Attorney’s Office. He also served for many years as counsel to the South Dakota Medical Board.
Bill and Kristi were married in 1999 in Santa Barbara. Together, they built a loving home on the scenic shores of Wall Lake, where they raised their two wonderful daughters, Evie and Bess, and created a lifetime of cherished family memories.
Bill was a devoted practitioner of Shotokan Karate, earning his second-degree black belt, passing his judging exam last year, and earning a Meritorious Service award in 2019. He loved teaching and bonding with other karateka of any age. He coached Bess’s softball team, earning Coach of the Year honors in 2013. He was always providing steadfast encouragement and stories from his time playing baseball.
He enjoyed life on Wall Lake, where he spent time fishing and boating. He loved taking people for rides around the lake, telling people about the history of houses and stories of lake-time exploits. An avid reader, he could be found most evenings in his favorite spot with yet another bad sci-fi or fantasy book. Bill looked forward to playing Wednesday-night trivia with his aptly named team, “Clever Team Name.” He enjoyed hunting with his friends and showing off his sharp-shooting prowess at the range.
Bill was always thinking of others. He had a remarkable ability to recognize the humanity in everyone, even when finding the good was difficult. To his family and friends, he was a steady voice of reason. There was no task too small, no ask too big. If you needed Bill, he was there. He had a great sense of humor and was always ready to share a laugh.
One night, a young woman who was lost and confused came to the family’s door. Bill calmly spoke with her and invited her inside to wait for help. The moment reflected the compassion and dignity with which he treated people.
Bill was protective of his girls, yet he always gave them the space to learn and find their own way. He was there whenever they needed him, whether driving through a snowstorm to sit with Evie after a blown tire or helping Bess after her spectacular spin on an icy highway. Bill was immensely proud of his daughters, and he steadfastly supported his remarkable wife and all her ambitions.
Bill is survived by his wife, Kristi Stewart Golden; his daughters, Evie Golden and Bess Golden; his parents, William and Kathleen Golden; his brothers, Tim Golden and his wife, Brande, Michael Golden and his wife, Luma, Jim Golden and his wife, Lindsey, and his sister, Courtney Golden. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Harold and Iona Fisher, and his uncle, Thomas Fisher.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bill’s honor to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) or the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.
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