Pioneer in Arthroscopy Dr. John Joseph Billion Dies at 83

Dr. John “Jack” Joseph Billion, a well-respected orthopedic surgeon in South Dakota, passed away on February 25, 2023, at the age of 83 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Billion was the first orthopedic surgeon in South Dakota to utilize arthroscopy in his surgeries.

In 1971, he started his orthopedic surgery career in Sioux Falls and served the region for 26 years. He followed in the footsteps of his grandfather’s cousin, Dr. Thomas James Billion, who co-founded McKennan Hospital in 1911.

Billion served as chief of surgery between 1972 and 1975 and chief of staff between 1979 and 1981 at McKennan Hospital and had surgical privileges at McKennan and Sioux Valley Hospital which is now Sanford.

In 1980, he founded the Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic in Sioux Falls. Under his leadership, it eventually grew into the Orthopedic Institute of Sioux Falls.

Billion was also a clinical professor with the University of South Dakota Medical School and spent time as the head of the school’s orthopedic surgery section. He was a consultant to the Royal C. Johnson Veteran Hospital where he served as the head of the orthopedic department there between 1990 and 1993.

A generous physician, he did what he could to provide care for his patients, regardless of their means. He took many trips to the Hospital San Antonio mission in Mexico to treat villagers who had very limited access to healthcare.

Billion earned his medical degree from Loyola-Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. He completed his residency and internship between 1964 and 1969 at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, Illinois

He was born on March 4, 1939, in Sioux Falls to Henry A. Billion and Evelyn M. Billion. He was the third of nine children. He graduated from Cathedral High School in Sioux Falls in 1957. Besides excelling at academics, he was also very involved in sports, earning varsity letters in football and tennis.

Billion earned his undergraduate degree from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, his father’s alma mater. While there he competed for the college’s tennis team.

It was while he was in college that he met his first wife, Linda Lambur of Chicago. She was attending Clark College in Dubuque at the time. They married in 1962 and had five children together. In 1980, he married Deb and they had two children together.

He spent two years serving in the U.S. Air Force before launching his career in orthopedic surgery.

Billion believed in helping others in any way he could. Besides serving in the military and taking care of his patients and students, he also spent many years serving on the Dakota Wesleyan University Board of Trustees as well as other boards and committees. He even took a turn in politics after retiring from medicine. He served in the South Dakota Legislature from 1993 to 1996, and in 2006, he ran as the Democratic nominee for South Dakota Governor.

He leaves behind his wife of 42 years, Deb Billion, 7 children, 19 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Billion was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother John Henry, brother Daniel, son-in-law Shane Sejnoha, grandson Joseph Viereck, great-grandson Jaxon Viereck, and nephew Paul Billion.