Ronald Gary Earl Sr. age 84, of Mitchell, SD died Monday, July 8, 2019 at Avera Brady Health and Rehab. Funeral services will be 7:00 PM Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at the Will Funeral Chapel with a private family committal at the Mt. Vernon Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Wednesday at the Will Funeral Chapel.

Ronald Gary Earl, Sr., son of Orville and Thelma (Malde) Earl, was born June 19,1935 on the family farm in rural Plankinton, SD. He attended country school and graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1953. While in high school, he participated in baseball and basketball.

Gary married his high school sweetheart, Alberta Ruhberg, on September 4, 1954 at Victor Lutheran Church in rural Mt. Vernon, SD. After their marriage, Gary worked as an ice cutter at Lake Mitchell and later at the Mt. Vernon Elevator. He and his wife were janitors and bus drivers and lived in the Hopper School for nine years. The couple began farming in 1959 and Gary continued farming until 2018, including driving combine for John Fritza.

He followed in his grandfather Rueben's footsteps becoming an auctioneer. Gary was a self-taught auctioneer and well known in the area for 50 years.

He was a member of the Mt. Vernon Methodist Church where he was active in several areas. Gary was also a member of the Mt. Vernon School Board and served as president of the Mt. Vernon Baseball Association. He was a big fan of Amateur Baseball and DWU Basketball, Gary also enjoyed hunting deer, geese and snowmobiling.

Grateful for having shared his life are his two children, Julie Raye Earl, Mt. Vernon, SD, Ron (Lori) Earl Jr., Rural Plankinton, SD; four grandchildren, Gary (Tami) Earl, Rural Kimball, SD, Rubin (Kirsten) Earl, Plankinton, SD, Orric (Amanda) Earl, Plankinton, SD, Jennalee (Ryan) Block, Huron, SD; six great grandchildren, Alexis Earl, Gable Van Oort, Braden Block, Carson Earl, Brantley Block, Ryne Earl; and a sister, Jeanne (Dr. Jack) Berry, Mitchell, SD; special friend, Betty Welch, Mt. Vernon, SD; nephews and nieces, Terry Hill, Woonsocket, SD, Kris (Connie) and Leah Kerwin, Sioux Falls, SD, Angela Sullivan, MO; great nephews, Kaleb Prewitt, MO, Eric Hill, Plankinton, SD; great niece Dr. Kerri Hill, CA; great great nephew, Justin Hill, CA; four cousins, Jack (Linda) Earl, Maureen (Lyle) Sunderland, Chris Colter and Becky Sahlaney.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Alberta on June 15, 2006; his parents; a sister, Janice Kerwin and her husband, Robert; his in-laws, a sister-in-law, Earlyne Ruhberg; a brother-in-law, Roger Hill; and a nephew Randy Hill.