Ronald Gary Earl Sr., 84, of Mitchell, died Monday, July 8, 2019 at Avera Brady Health and Rehab.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at the Will Funeral Chapel with a private family committal at the Mt. Vernon Cemetery. Visitation was 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. 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 Sept. 4, 1954 at Victor Lutheran Church in rural Mt. Vernon. 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.

Gary was a member of the Mt. Vernon Methodist Church where he was active in several areas. He was also a member of the Mt. Vernon Baseball Association. He was a big fan of amateur baseball and DWU basketball. Gary also enjoyed hunting deer and geese, and snowmobiling.

Gary is survived by his two children, Julie Raye Earl of Mt. Vernon and Ron (Lori) Earl Jr. of Rural Plankinton; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a sister, Jeanne (Dr. Jack) Berry of Mitchell; special friend, Betty Welch of Mt. Vernon; several nieces and nephews, including Terry Hill of Woonsocket, and four cousins.

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.