William H. 'Bill' Trent

Bill enjoyed a full measure of life and then some. He was born on April 21, 1928 in Roanoke, Virginia of William H. Trent, Sr. and Verna Allen Perkinson Trent. He attended Hargrave Military Academy and graduated in 1947.

After graduation, Bill spent time overseas working in Morocco and then Iceland doing surveying work.

He came back to the US in 1953 and met his wife, Jeanie. During his years back in the US he also spent much time stock car racing. He was one of the originals who raced on the beach in Daytona before the racetrack was built in the late 1950’s. He married Jean Maulis in 1955 and they spent many happy years working and traveling with the S. J Groves company. He worked with S. J Groves for 29 years, and lived in Virginia, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Alberta Canada, Minnesota, Wyoming, Colorado and South Dakota.

In 1957, his daughter Connie was born in Virginia and 3 years later, his son, David was born in Missouri.

In 1987 he started the construction company Dakota Mining. Bill and Jean lived in Spearfish, South Dakota for 28 years, eventually retiring there. He continued to enjoy racing over the years with several of his old buddies---this time as spectators, rarely missing Indianapolis or Daytona Nascar races over the years.

Bill became very active with the Republican party both in the State of South Dakota and nationally. He was a state delegate for South Dakota during the nineties and national for John McCain in 2008.

Bill was an avid hunter--enjoying pheasant hunting, duck, and dove. He loved bar-b-que parties in the summer and hosting his infamous egg nog parties during the holidays. The eternal host, he was always the life of the party.

Bill sold his home in Spearfish in 2013 and moved to Colorado after his health started failing. Bill is survived by his wife Jean, his son and daughter in law, David and Shauna Trent, his daughter and son in law, Dan and Connie Muhlhahn and his six grandchildren, Hadley, Skyann, Karsyn, Cameron and his wife Sarah, Lauren and Daniel.