In Loving Memory of William "Bill" Charles Teply

William "Bill" Charles Teply, 74, of Bismarck, North Dakota, formerly of Wolsey, South Dakota, passed away on July 15, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia. He traded his toolbox for heavenly garage keys, leaving behind a lifetime of laughter, love, and more Studebakers than most people knew existed.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM, Monday, July 27, at Calvary United Methodist Church, 609 N 34th St, Bismarck.

Burial will be held at 3:00 PM, Monday, July 27, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Bill was born on September 28, 1951, in Huron, South Dakota, to Charles W. and Helen I. (Rahder) Teply. He grew up in Wolsey, where he developed a lifelong love of antiques, classic cars, and especially Studebakers. From an early age, it didn't take long to discover that if something had wheels, an engine, or needed fixing, Bill was interested. While others collected stamps or baseball cards, Bill collected Studebakers. If you ever asked him how many he owned, you probably got a different answer every time. Rest assured, he knew exactly where each one was.

Bill graduated with the Wolsey High School Class of 1970. In December of that year, he enlisted in the United States Navy, proudly serving his country until December 1974 and attaining the rank of Petty Officer Third Class. During the Vietnam War, he served aboard the USS Higbee and USS King as a Blue Water Sailor. While serving, he survived an explosion that permanently damaged his hearing, and he carried the effects of that injury throughout his life. For his honorable service, Bill received the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. His years of military service reflected the dedication, courage, integrity, and strong work ethic that defined his life.

After returning to Wolsey, Bill worked in painting and cement construction before co-owning the West End Salvage Yard in Belfield, North Dakota.

In 1981, one of Bill's greatest joys came with the birth of his daughter, Angela. While Studebakers remained one of his lifelong passions, nothing compared to the love and pride he had for his daughter. He was incredibly proud of Angela and loved her deeply. The bond they shared brought him immense happiness, and watching her grow into the woman she became was one of the greatest blessings of his life.

In 1983, Bill began his career with the United States Postal Service, where he faithfully served until his retirement in 2010.

Bill was a talented craftsman who could build or repair just about anything he set his mind to. Whether restoring a classic car, tackling a home project, or helping someone in need, he took pride in doing the job right. His passion for Studebaker automobiles was unmatched, and he found great joy in restoring, collecting, and talking about the cars he loved.

Bill's greatest partnership began in January 1995, when he met Judith "Judie" Burtch-Wiltse. Together they built not only a life filled with love and laughter, but also a lasting legacy through their shared dedication to real estate and rental properties. Their partnership was rooted in hard work, mutual respect, and a shared vision for the future. On September 17, 2023, Bill and Judie were married, celebrating a love that had grown stronger over nearly three decades together. Over the years, their combined family shared seven grandchildren, three marriages, and many wonderful times.

Whether he was under the hood of a classic car, telling a joke, or sharing stories with family and friends, Bill had a remarkable way of making people smile. He had a quick wit, an easy laugh, and a knack for finding humor in just about every situation. His garage wasn't just a workshop, it was a gathering place where conversations flowed as easily as bottles of root beer were opened, and there was always room for one more story.

Above all else, Bill loved his family. He was a devoted husband, proud father, cherished grandfather, loving brother, treasured uncle, and loyal friend whose greatest joy came from spending time with the people he loved.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Judith Teply of Bismarck, North Dakota; his daughter, Angela Olson of Bismarck, North Dakota; his stepchildren, Jason (Christy) Wiltse of Burlington, North Dakota, and Amanda (Bill) Geiger of Mandan, North Dakota; his sister, Charleen (Larry) Anderson of Omaha, Nebraska; his beloved step-grandchildren, Kyleigh, Jayden, and Chase Wiltse of Burlington; Brayden and MacKenzie McClure of Mandan; and bonus grandchildren, Calysta and Wyatt Geiger of Mandan. He is also survived by his nephews, Matt (Melissa) Teply of Woodbury, Tennessee; Nathan (Janet) Teply of Madison, Alabama; Kyle (Karen) Anderson of La Vista, Nebraska, Jacob (Sabrina) Teply of Huntsville, Alabama and; his niece, Josie (Ben) Fiebelkorn of Madison, Alabama; his step-nephew, Ryan (Michelle) Fettig of Bismarck, North Dakota; his great-nieces and great-nephews, Saul, Olivia, Luke, Gage, Scarlett, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Lexi, Maci, Cora, Hallie, and Harrison; and his step - great niece and step - great nephew, Alexa and Ethan. All will forever treasure his stories, his sense of humor, and the memories they shared.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Helen Teply; his brother, Jack Teply; and his sister-in-law, Shirley Teply.

If heaven has a classic car show, Bill has probably already found the Studebaker section, introduced himself to everyone there, and is explaining exactly how he'd tune up each one. His family takes comfort in imagining him behind the wheel of his favorite ride, cruising smooth roads with the windows down and not a single pothole in sight.

Bill's legacy isn't measured by the number of cars he restored, but by the lives he touched, the laughter he shared, and the love he gave so freely. He will be deeply missed, fondly remembered, and forever loved.