Obituary of Earl Eugene King

   Geddes - Earl "Babe" Eugene King, 91, died at Platte Health Center Avera on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. Memorail service will be Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 11:00 AM at United Methodist Church in Geddes. There will be a private family burial in Pleasant Lawn Cemetery in Geddes prior to the memorial service. Visitation will be Monday, April 15, 2019 from 6:00 - 7:30 PM at United Methodist Church in Geddes with a prayer service at 7:30 PM. Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Armour.

   Earl Eugene “Babe” King died Tuesday, April 9 in Platte Health Center Avera at the age of 91.  

   Earl E. King was born on December  25th, 1927 to Earl L. and Emma (Martins) King in rural Platte, SD.  His family moved to rural Geddes, SD in 1943.  He graduated from Platte High School in 1945. Earl married Betty M. Phillips on August 10, 1952 at the Geddes United Methodist Church and moved into Geddes where he resided for the remainder of his life.  His early work experiences include construction of the Fort Randall Dam, Charles Mix County and Mobil Oil.  Together with Betty, they operated the Mobil Oil Bulk Service, King’s Service mechanic shop,  and King’s Service trucking.  Earl concluded his work activities delivering fuel for the Geddes Farmers Coop Oil Station. 

   Earl was a member of the Geddes United Methodist Church where he served as board president for several years, Masonic Doric Lodge #93, Acacia Chapter #63 Order of Eastern Star, Geddes Fire Department, Geddes School Board and he served on the Geddes City Council for 30 years.

   Earl enjoyed camping with family, summer days on the Missouri River, and especially the family’s annual Black Hills deer hunting trip which he participated in for 60 years.  Earl and Betty enjoyed golfing together and made many friends through their association with the Lake Platte  Golf Club. Throughout his life Earl always enjoyed a good game of cards.  The joy of playing cards was only eclipsed by his desire to provide free, unsolicited card playing advice to opponents and partners alike.  

   Earl is survived by his wife of 66 years, Betty M. King; children, Marsha (Norm) Kostboth of Gettysburg, SD, Michael (Kelly) King of Sioux Falls, SD, and Linda (Dan) Schulte of Geddes; grandchildren, Michael Kostboth, Amy (Adam) Porter, Jenna (Mark DiMaria) King, Paul King, Kaylee King, Mark (Kelley) Schulte, Matt (Rachel) Schulte, Katelyn (Micah) Strasser, Grayden Melick, 9 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, and all of his siblings:  brothers Vern, Lawrence, Virgil, Harold and sisters Helen Shortreed and Lula Touw.