Earl Dwight Dahlke age 84, of Draper, SD, recently living in the Avantara-Pierre Nursing Home in Pierre SD for the last 2 3/4 years died on December 28 at Pierre Avera St. Mary’s Hospital.

Earl’s funeral service will be at 2:00pm on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Draper, with visitation for one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Murdo Cemetery. The service can be viewed via live stream at the top of this page. Memorials can be directed to the Jones County Senior Center.

Earl was born on May 6, 1936 to Ludwig and Florence (Eggers) Dahlke.   Earl went 6 years in rural grade schools and Murdo elementary school for 2 years.  He graduated from Draper High School.  While in high school he started working on his father’s farm and ranch.  After he graduated from high school, Earl began working full time on the ranch.  Eventually Earl went into the Dahlke Ranch Partnership with his parents and his brother-in-law Wesley and Betty Lou Mann.  Earl worked all of his life in this business.

Eventually Earl became interested in riding motorcycles.  He and Wesley rode many miles locally and on trips.  They rode for a few years with several friends, some of whom were Carrol Andrews, Don Convey, Lyle Venard, and two or three more to several western states.

Another activity that Earl got interested in doing in the late fall with a good friend, Charles Quick, was catching and picking up rattlesnakes.  They caught many snakes over the years which they put in small buckets, froze them and then sold to a fellow who used the skins.

Earl was a life-long member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Draper, SD and a lifetime member of the NRA.

Earl leaves family members his sister Betty Lou Mann, his nephew Rodney (Brenda) Mann and their two children Teagan and Denae Mann and several cousins.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents, and brother-in-law Wesley Mann.

1. Add to favourites
2. Report abuse