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Earl Gabrielof Wall, South Dakota, died on Saturday, September 26, 2009
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Raymond “Earl” Gabriel was born July 24, 1918 to Fred and Frances (Hunn) Gabriel. The sixth child of seven, he grew up on their homestead south of Faith, South Dakota in the Turtle Creek area. He helped with milking cows, herding cattle, sheep and horses as a child. He received an eighth grade education at the Turtle Creek School.
Earl lived with his family south of Faith until 1934 when he moved with his parents and brothers, Frank and Paul, to the Wounded Knee area where his father had leased 2½ sections of land to run their cattle on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. They lived there for about five years on American Horse Creek. Around 1940 Earl moved to his brother Floyd Gabriel’s ranch near Pedro, SD. He purchased sheep from his youngest brother Frank who was serving in World War II. Earl was working for Floyd when he met the woman he would love and spend the rest of his life with.
On May 17, 1941 Earl married Erma Rose Coleman in Philip, SD. For a while they resided with Floyd and Tressa Gabriel (Earl’s brother and Erma’s sister) and there they began their ranching life raising sheep. Around 1943 they moved to north west Haakon county, to what was known as the Moses Place. There they raised sheep and broke horses to make a living. Later they included cattle on their ranching operation and eventually sold the sheep. In August 1961 Earl and Erma adopted their daughter, Cindy Rae. She was the light of his life and her daddy’s right hand man as she grew older. In 1963 the family moved to north eastern Pennington county, along Deep Creek near the old town of Pedro. They continued to ranch, raise cattle and live there until they moved to Philip in 2004 because of health reasons. Earl and Erma moved to the Kadoka Nursing Home in October of 2006 where he resided with Erma until her passing in March of 2009 and he resided until his passing.
Earl was a member of the Dowling Community Church and enjoyed reading his Bible on long cold winter nights. Earl and Erma enjoyed going to square dances and doing fun things with their neighbors. He often talked about riding horses to Irna and Leo’s, his sister and her husband, on a Sunday to visit; laughing when he told how they had to back green broke horses across the Cheyenne River bridge at Hans T. Hanson’s place. In the mid 1960's Earl was an extra on the movie set of “How the West was Won” while it was filming in the Black Hills, where he portrayed a railroad track layer. He loved helping neighbors, whether it be working livestock, breaking horses or fixing broken down machinery. He worked for the Wall Sale Barn and Philip Livestock Auction as a sorter and load out person in the late 1960's. He enjoyed the changing seasons on the ranch. Spring meant branding time at all the neighbors and fall meant getting out his corn cutter or stack mover and traveling around to the neighbors to help them with fall harvest or getting hay hauled home. He loved his ranch life, riding horses and working cattle. Friends always knew they could stop in for a game of cards or an evening of just visiting. Earl enjoyed life and always found something to smile or laugh about. He will be missed by anyone whose life he touched.
Grateful for having shared his life are his daughter Cindy Gabriel Nuzum of Philip; two grandsons Colt Nuzum of Newcastle, Wyoming and Casey Nuzum of Sundance, Wyoming; his sister, Irna (Gabriel) Collins of rural Faith; two sisters-in-law, Tressa Gabriel of Philip and Ilma Gabriel of rural Faith; numerous nieces and nephews who he truly enjoyed spending time with; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Earl was preceded in death by his wife Erma; his parents, Fred and Francis Gabriel; four brothers John, Paul, Floyd and Frank, and one sister Freda (Gabriel) Johnson.
Visitation was held 3-6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip, and two hours preceding the services at the community center on Thursday.
Funeral services were held 1:00 p.m. Thursday, October 1, at the Wall Community Center.
Interment was in the Wall Cemetery.
A memorial is established.
FUNERAL SERVICES
Thursday, October 1, 2009 - 1:00 p.m.
Wall Community Center
Wall, South Dakota
CLERGY
Rev. Chris Crago
MUSIC
Marilyn Millage - Pianist
Kent Gabriel - Guitarist
“Green Green Grass of Home”
“Old Rugged Cross”
Cindy Nuzum - Vocalist on CD
“You Can Let Go Daddy”
“Daddy’s Hands”
USHERS
Gerad Julson - Jeff Gabriel
PALLBEARERS
Larry Gabriel - Jimmy Collins
Dick Johnson - Bobby Collins
Rick Scott - Mike Noteboom
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance
INTERMENT
Wall Cemetery
Wall, South Dakota
Horse drawn wagon and team by Dr. Alice Harty
Visitation: 3-6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip
Funeral services: 1:00 p.m. Thursday, October 1, at the Wall Community Center.
Interment: Wall Cemetery.