It is with sorrow and gratitude that we mark the passing of Earle Geide, 105, — sorrow at the loss, gratitude for the life.
Some stories deserve to be told slowly. This is one of them.
The story begins in 1919, with the arrival of a life that would be cherished by many.
Earle held deeply to the Lutheran faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew him best.
Service is one chapter of a life, but for those who serve, it shapes every other.
To view the funeral service, follow the link: https://www.youtube.com/@trinitylutheranchurchhartf1572 Earle Geide, 105 of Hartford, went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 4, 2025 surrounded by loved ones after a brief stay in hospice. Funeral Services will be at 10:30 am Saturday, January 11, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Hartford. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm Friday, January 10, 2025 at the church with a prayer service at 7:00 pm. Arrangements by Hofmeister Jones Funeral Home, Parker. Earle Robert Geide, son of Felix and Ella (Kraemer) Geide, was born on November 12, 1919 at Moe Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. He was baptized on February 8, 1920 at Immanuel Lutheran Church and confirmed on August 11, 1935 at First English Lutheran Church, both in Parker. During the Great Depression, Earle's family moved many times prior to him graduating from Monroe High School in 1939. Earle is a World War II veteran having served in the U.S. Army. Following his honorable discharge in 1943, he farmed with his father until the purchase of his first 160 acres of land south of Hartford. He farmed full time with his family raising beef, hogs and 1600 laying hens and growing corn, beans, oats, and alfalfa hay, until 2018. He took great pride and a discerning interest as his son Orrin, son-in-law Rod, and grandson Noah continued the farming operation. After a 7 year long courtship through mail, Earle married Cornelia (Connie) Rose Huebschman at St. John's Lutheran Church in Evanston, IN on June 20, 1953. They were married 66 years before Connie's passing in 2019. Earle had a passion for flying and bought his first plane when he returned from the war for $450. He earned a commercial pilot status accumulating over 4,000 hours checking cattle, family trips to southern Indiana, and Flying Farmer activities. He was awarded the Federal Aviation Administration Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award on August 27, 2011 for 50 years of continuous accident and incident-free flying. Earle was also honored and inducted into the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame on September 8, 2012. Earle and Connie were charter members of the South Dakota Flying Farmer Organization since 1954 where he served as state president and was awarded South Dakota Flying Farmer of the Year in 1973. They also joined the International Flying Farmers and Ranchers where Earle served as Regional Director. Their involvement gave them the opportunity to attend events across the United States including Alaska, Canada, and Mexico. Their most notable trip was to Costa Rica with a stop in Guatemala where they experienced a 7.2 earthquake on February 4, 1976. Earle has been an active and devoted member of Trinity Lutheran Church and the Hartford American Legion for 75 years. Grateful for having shared his life are Earle's two children, Orrin Geide of Hartford, and Joy (Rod) Hohn of Hartford; two grandchildren, Noah (Briana) Hohn and Camille Hohn of Hartford; sister Donna Rae (George) Vogt, Groveland, FL; special friends and caregivers, Sandy Holzemer, Theresa Dyer and Rhonda DeJong; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Connie; parents Felix and Ella Geide; sisters Ruth Arends, Jean Gregersen and Lila Mae Anderson; infant brother Clair; nephews Lance Vogt and Allan Arends; parents-in-law Louis and Alvina Huebschman; sisters-in-law Ethel Mulzer and Erma Berbaum; and brothers-in-law Norman, Edgar, and Eugene Huebschman.
