Earl Yost, age 70, of rural Iroquois, SD, died on Sunday, September 14, 2008 at his home of cancer.
His funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 18, 2008 at Faith Mennonite Church, rural Iroquois with burial at the church cemetery.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Welter Funeral Home with the family present from 3 to 6 p.m.; or Thursday morning one hour prior to the service at the church.
Arthur Earl Yost was born the son of John and Lena (Smith) Yost on January 21 1938 at Montezuma, Kansas. Earl quietly passed away at home on the morning of September 14, 2008, at the age of 70 years.
His childhood years were spent on the family farm near Copeland, KS. On February 7, 1951 after repenting of his sins, he was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite at Copeland, KS by Min. Orlan Wedel. This faith was precious to him all his life. At the age of 17, Dad lost his mother to cancer. This was a difficult time in his life
In November of 1956 he went to Los Angeles, CA to give two years in 1-W service. While home on furlough, on November 17, 1957 he was married to Inez Koehn by Min. A.T Koehn at Copeland, KS, they shared the joys and sorrows of life for nearly 51 years. To their home were born 3 sons and 3 daughters. They also opened their home to others, taking them in and caring for them as their own.
To provide for his wife and growing family, Earl took up the occupation of earthmoving in the southwest Kansas area, sometimes working on jobs with some of his brothers. We remember him spending many hours at the table, in the evening studying maps and calculating cuts and fills. As their family continued to grow, he became concerned with being able to spend more time interacting with the children. With this in mind, the family purchased a farm in South Dakota, and moved to Iroquois on March 12, 1969. He farmed there through 2003, wheat and cattle being his favorite. He was known for his meticulous treatment of equipment.
After retiring from farming Dad and Mom spent nearly two years as house parents at the Christian Child Care Home in Gallup NM. While there, they made many new friends. Dad and Mom had a special place in their hearts for children with disappointments in their life.
In the fall of 2006, Dad was diagnosed with cancer. This caused him much soul searching, and deepened his faith in God. Those of his family living close by faithfully cared for his physical needs until the end.
Dad was a gentle steady presence in our lives, taking the time to talk to us about our spiritual life. He was especially fond of his grandchildren, and they likewise of him.
Those left to cherish fond memories are his wife: Inez; their children: Sidney (Rhonda) of Ronan, MT; Evan (Kathy) of Starbuck, MN; Marilyn Yost of Huron, SD; Carolyn (Jason Koehn) of Pipestone, MN; Sharon (Danny Wiebe) of Iroquois, SD; and Jason (Bonnie) of Pipestone, MN; 21 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; two brothers: Arlin (Florence) of Montezuma, KS; and Wilbur (Dorothy) of Copeland, KS; Three sisters: Dorothy Jantz of Montezuma, KS; Orreda Yost of Livingston, CA; and Priscilla (LeDon Harlow) of Satanta, KS; two sisters-in-law: Jaletta Yost of Macon, MS; and Wilda Yost of Ulysses, KS; two step sisters: Maxine (Robert Schroeder) of Transylvania LA; and Norma (Melvin Unruh) of Macon, MS.
His parents, stepmother, two brothers, one granddaughter, and one stepbrother preceded him in death.