Earl Reidle, 77, Fairview, MT

Funeral services for Earl Reidle, 77, of Fairview, MT were at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 9, 2013, at Zion Lutheran Church in Fairview with Pastor Roberta Pierce officiating. Interment was held in the Fairview Cemetery, Fairview, ND under the direction of Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.fulkersons.com.

Earl was born east of Fairview in McKenzie County, ND on November 8, 1935, the son of John and Louise (Brunkhardt) Reidle. He attended grade school in Dore, ND and high school in Fairview, graduating in 1953. In 1953, he enlisted in the National Guard and served three different tours, Barstow, CA, Camp Irwin, CA and Fort Knox, KY. Earl was an armored track vehicle specialist and was honorably discharged in 1962 as an E-4 Sergeant.

Earl was united in marriage to his lifelong love, Barbara Hayden, on February 22, 1958 at Zion Lutheran Church in Fairview, MT. To this union three children were born, Jeff, Jay and Anita. In the spring of 1959, Earl rented some sugar beet ground and went into farming for himself. Over the years he and Barbara continued to expand their farms, which he continued to do for the remainder of his life. Earl was a farmer through and through. For the last 21 years he spent his early springs planting and growing seeds in the Oasis Greenhouse. Earl spent 71 of his 77 years living and working on the same farm. He always felt extremely blessed to have spent his life in the Yellowstone Valley that he loved so very much.

On February 22, 2013, Earl and Barb celebrated their 55th Wedding Anniversary. Earl was a hardworking man who was devoted to his family. His children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were his greatest joy.

Earl was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. He was a board member of the Montana-Dakota Beet Growers Association, East Fairview School Board, Yellowstone Township Board and Yellowstone Zoning Board. He was a member of the Moose Lodge, Elks Lodge, pool league, bowling league and was a charter member of the Fairview Jaycees. Earl enjoyed farming, playing cribbage and billiards, restoring old pedal tractors, watching high school basketball and his grandchildren’s activities. Earl loved spending time with his cows. He would always feed them extra on holidays-especially on Christmas Eve. He, together with his Reidle cousins, built the Valley View Feedlot.

Earl died late Monday evening, July 1, 2013, at the Sidney Health Center.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Reidle, Fairview, MT; his sons, Jeff Reidle and Jay Reidle both of Fairview, MT; his daughter, Anita (Scott) Buxbaum, Fairview, MT; his two sisters, Delores (Archie) Mann, Livingston, MT and Joyce Wicorek, Fairview, MT; his grandchildren, Brian (Trish) Buxbaum, Kayla (Blaine) Watts, Alexandra Reidle and John Reidle, all of Fairview, MT; Jane (Dustin) Moulton, Aberdeen, WA, and Jerica (Quentin) Miller, Vernal, UT; his great grandchildren, Brady, Jace, Carly Buxbaum and Rylan Watts, all of Fairview, MT, Haidynn and Londynn Moulton, Aberdeen, WA and McKinley Miller, Vernal, UT; his in-laws, Margaret Denowh, Cartwright, ND, Gertrude (Arnold) Hanson, Doris (Kenneth) Roe, and Ruth Hayden, all of Redding, CA, Mary Schaub, Havre, MT and Betty Hayden, Fairview, MT.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Louise Reidle and his step-father, Joe Mock.