William Oliver Rothlisberger

William Oliver Rothlisberger, age 90, of Albuquerque, NM, passed away on Saturday, December 10, 2022, in hospice care in Rio Rancho at the Beehive Homes. William was born on April 30, 1932, to Forrest and Ellen Rothlisberger in Overly, ND.
After graduating from Shattuck High School in 1950 as an award-winning member of the rifle team, he studied Civil Engineering at the ND School of Forestry and ND State College. In 1954 he joined the USAF Aviation Cadets program with the desire to become an officer with a pilot rating. His first posting was to Sacramento, CA, where he met, fell in love with and married Harriet Robertson who was teaching school there. The couple were next posted to Komaki Air Base, Japan with Bill flying F-86 Sabres. He loved it and retained a life-long membership in the F-86 Sabre Pilot's Association.

In 1965 William was posted to Yokota Air Base, Japan with the 58th Weather Recon Squadron. The RB57-F aircraft he flew required the wear of a full pressure suit (same suit that the Gemini astronauts wore). He flew every model of this airplane ever built, including the three still flying with NASA to this day as spotters for returning manned space missions. He received the first of two Distinguished flying Crosses by being intercepted by a Soviet Sukhoi fighter that had been specially prepared to make a single ramming attempt at extreme altitude. It missed.
He also did a year long tour during the Vietnam War where his squadron was the first to field and test an experimental concept, the air to ground laser-guidance system. These missions were flown in the "short wing" B57G which was based on the British Canberra and had a 3-man crew. It was here that he received his second DFC for returning his burning ordnance-leaden aircraft back to base instead of risking lives on the ground by bailing out.

William retired from the Air Force after 20 years as a Lt. Colonel. He promptly took up a new profession as a heavy equipment operator, building roads and highways. He was in high demand as a "finish blade man" for his ability to finely contour terrain such as golf courses.
William delighted in visiting local airports in his spare time. On a visit to Double Eagle Airport, he announced that he had been hired to work at the testing center proctoring FAA tests for pilots of all sorts of aircraft, even hot air balloons. He ran the testing center for eight years. William finally retired in his 80's as the testing center was moving to new technology.
William is survived by his wife, Harriet; and children, Thomas, and Suzanne; also, by his brother, Rodney, and cousin, Wilbur Wright.

A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, January 23, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., All Saints Lutheran Church, 4800 All Saints Road - Albuquerque, NM 87114.
Interment will be held Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 1:00 p.m., Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico with Military Honors.
The family request in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Tunnel to Towers
Foundation or to June's Senior Cat Rescue, a local organization.