William John Arbegast, Jr. 58, Rapid City, died Saturday, November 28, 2009 at Rapid City Regional Hospital. He was born April 11, 1951 at Davenport, IA. the son of William John and Gloria Florence (Kamps) Arbegast. Bill received a BA in Metallurgical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO. He dedicated over 30 years of his life to his passion for Science and Education. His accomplishments include initiating the development of Friction Stir Processing technology, and he has been instrumental in research and development for aerospace technologies for Lockheed Martin Space Systems. Bill's greatest passion was sharing his knowledge and love for science with his students whom he cared for deeply. Mr. Arbegast was Director of the Advanced Materials Processing and Joining Laboratory, Director of the I/UCRC Center for Friction Stir Processing, and Director of the Repair, Refurbish and Return to Service Applied Research Center at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. Surviving are his daughter, Leanne Stover and her husband, Ryan and grandson, Mason Stover, Westcliffe, CO and daughter, Kati Patterson and her husband, Chris, Greeley, CO, his former wife and friend, Christine Arbegast, Denver, CO, sisters, Toni Phillips and Pam Yanick of Tennessee, a brother, Kim Arbegast, Tennessee and close friend, Mary Basoco. The family would like to thank the staff at Rapid City Regional Hospital for their care and support. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 Friday, Dec. 11, 2009 at S. D. School of Mines and Technology, Surbeck Center Ballroom. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the William J. Arbegast Memorial Scholarship fund at the SDSM&T Foundation, http://foundation.sdsmt.edu.