Earl Randall

Earl Randall, 96, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at Avera Mother Joseph Manor.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 4, 2025, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Aberdeen, with Father Greg Tschakert officiating.

A time for fellowship and luncheon will follow Mass at the parish hall.

Interment will be at St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery in Hoven, following the lunch.

Visitation will be from 4-5 p.m., Thursday, April 3, at Schriver’s Memorial Chapel, with a 5:00 p.m. wake service. Visitation continues one hour before Mass.

In lieu of flowers or memorials, the family requests that you visit someone in the nursing home and have a cup of coffee in honor of Earl.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com. Services will be recorded and posted on Schriver’s website following the service.

Earl A Randall was born November 30, 1928, to Elmer and Marvel (Tucker) Randall. He was born and raised on the family farm four miles north of Akaska, SD, where he learned the value of family and hard work. At the age of five, he cultivated a quarter of corn, using a team of horses. Earl attended Wayside Rural school, located a mile north of their house. It was uphill both ways. He later attended Selby High School, where he excelled at football, earning his nickname Tank.

Having some banking business to do, he walked into the local bank, looking back at him from behind the counter were the most beautiful blue eyes he had ever seen. He thought, “I am going to marry her.” Shortly after that, he and his best friend, Modeste Marin, joined the United States Air Force. He was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska; he wrote a letter to his blue-eyed beauty, Arlene Simon, every day he was allowed to.  He convinced her to move to Fairbanks; they were married on July 10, 1951. One year later they were blessed with a daughter Vicki Lynn, he called her his little eskimo. Earl joined Arlene in the Catholic faith and later joined the Knights of Columbus, obtaining the fourth degree. The marriage lasted 74 years, 26,888 days to be exact, until her passing.

Upon discharge from the service, Earl attended South Dakota State University. They resided in the campus barracks (a Quonset), where they welcomed their second child, Debra Sue. After graduating from SDSU, they thought they would be moving to the family farm, but Earl was offered a job with the Food and Drug Administration, so he moved his family to Coon Rapids, MN. Living in the Minneapolis area and working for the federal government wasn’t exactly Earl’s dream.

Seeking to live closer to family, they moved to Aberdeen, SD; Earl accepted a position with Farmland Industries, calling on local Coops selling farm supplies. His knowledge of how things worked on the farm served Earl well when consulting coop managers who became like Family.  Thinking they were settled for good, they decided to expand their family, and they had a boy, Dana Earl.

After working for Farmland for 22 years of dedicated service, not taking a single sick day, he decided it was time to start a new career in Financial Planning. He convinced his son to join him in the business. They opened a Raymond James Financial Services office in Aberdeen.  He worked for another 18 years, retiring at the age of 80.  Still feeling the need to be doing something more, he volunteered to drive veterans to Sioux Falls, SD, most were younger than he was. He went to work for a summer guarding the welding equipment for the pipeline East of Aberdeen, taking 12-hour shifts at night.

In his spare time, Earl enjoyed his visits to the family farm. He liked to fish with everyone, especially with his son-in-law, Joe Barnett. In the Fall, Earl donned his blaze orange while chasing the elusive wily pheasant. He was a master blocker; he taught many people how to shoot a rooster flying towards you.

Grateful for having shared Earl’s life are children: Vicki (Jim) Bruse of Sioux Falls, SD, Debra Sue (deceased) (Joseph) Barnett of Aberdeen, SD, and Dana (Becky) Randall of Akaska, SD; in-laws, LaVern Simon of Aberdeen, SD, Annette Frost of Hoven, SD, Lila Simon of Hoven, SD; grandchildren: Erin (Rob) Mitzel, Jarod Bruse, Lindsay (Mario) Gourde, Steven (Nicole) Barnett, Eric Barnett, Megan (Dan) Ogren, Joey Barnett, Amanda (Chris) McKay and Kaitlyn (Brock) Knodel; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.

Earl was preceded in death by his wife Arlene; daughter, Debra Sue Barnett; parents, Elmer and Marvel Randall; in-laws Stephen and Lena Simon; and brother, Elmer Randall, Jr.