Darl Ellis

Funeral services for Darl Ellis, 73, of Iona, were held on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 10:30 AM at the United Methodist Church in Gregory, SD with Pastor Royal Archer officiating. A visitation was held Tuesday evening, January 24, 2012 at Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, SD.

Music was provided by Bob Lubbers, harmonica solo, and Barb Durfee, pianist. Linda Feyereisen and Barb Fenenga were in charge of registration. Kathy Winter and Linda Svoboda were flower attendants.

Casket bearers were Arlyn Feyereisen, Tim Walker, Jeff Hurd, Harold Winter, Bob Fenenga, and Vince Svododa. Honorary pallbearers were Dennis Kenzy, Charlie Drews, Buster Schuiling, and all his neighbors and friends.

Interment was on Thursday January 26, 2012 at 1:00 PM at Mountain View Cemetery in Rapid City, SD.

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Darl Arlyn Ellis was born March 13, 1938 , the son of Merl and Edna (Walker) Ellis at their farm home east of Iona, SD. When Darl was nine years old the family moved to Iona where he attended grade school. He then attended high school in Gregory.

At the age of 16 he started working construction and at the age of 25 he started driving trucks. He drove for various companies and later began his own trucking business and continued driving his entire active life.

Darl and Theresa Lubbers were married in 1958 and to this union two children were born - Darl, Jr. and Connie. They lived in various places in South Dakota as Darl traveled with his construction work and truck driving. They settled in Rapid City where Theresa opened her beauty shop in Bacon Park, the Big Top Beauty Salon. They lived and raised their family in Rapid City until 1987 when they returned to the farm in Iona.

Darl retired from trucking in 2001. He was a member of the million mile club and received many safety awards. He never had an accident in all his years of driving. Darl's main interests always centered around trucks, engines and cars. He loved to tinker with any vehicle trying to improve its speed or performance. Darl and his brother-in-law Bill Lubbers restored old tractors and cars which gave them both something to brag about.

Darl passed away on January 20, 2012 at the age of 73 years. He was preceded in death by his son Darl, Jr. his parents and grandparents, a sister Arlene Hurd, and his brother-in-law Bill Lubbers.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years Theresa of Iona, SD; his daughter Connie Ellis of Rapid City, SD; and a granddaughter Sydney and her special friend Brian Gooch of Box Elder, SD. Also surviving is a son-in-law Kelly Thurman of Box Elder,SD; a special niece Keri ( Tom) De Sutter of Fargo, ND; a nephew Jeff (Rebel) Hurd of Bridgewater, SD; brothers-in-law Chas Hurd of Mitchell, SD; Dennis (Myrtle) Lubbers of Burke, SD; Eddie (Jeannie) Lubbers of Firestone, CO; and Bob (Elsie) Lubbers of White Pine, MI; a sister-in-law Virginia (Louie) Brozik of Yankton, SD; and special cousins Arlyn (Linda) Feyereisen and Tim(Amy) Walker of Iona, SD.