Earl Nordby, age 85, of Huron, died Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at Huron Regional Medical Center. His funeral service was held at 10:30 AM Monday, March 7th, at First Presbyterian Church with a lunch to follow at the Huron Event Center. Military honors were presented by the Huron Veterans Council. A private burial was held in the Riverside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the South Dakota Community Foundation, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, or South Dakota Public Broadcasting, and sent to Kuhler Funeral Home, 1360 Dakota Ave. S., Huron, SD 57350.
Earl was born December 8, 1930, in Madison, South Dakota, to Martin and Susan Nordby. He graduated from Huron High School and Huron College. Earl served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Korean War and was awarded the Purple Heart in July, 1953 for his service.
On August 8, 1954 he married Shirley Ekdahl from Henderson, Kentucky. They made their home in Huron where they raised two daughters, Diane and Linda, and were active in community activities.
Earl developed an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age by delivering the Huron Plainsman at age 12, and then buying and operating an ice business when he was just 14 years old. From there he worked closely with his father and mother in their RC Cola Bottling Company which Earl purchased from his mother before converting it into Pepsi Cola Bottling of Huron, serving Huron, Mitchell, Chamberlain and Pierre. He founded Nordby Realty which operates real estate throughout the Huron area and HMMI, a steel manufacturing business in Huron.
His volunteerism in the Huron community included serving as Boy Scout leader, a member of the Presbyterian Church choir, a member of the Huron Housing and Redevelopment Board and as chairman of the Urban Development Commission. He was one of the founders of Huron Regional Medical Center and served as its first President of the Board of Directors. He also served as president of several civic organizations including Greater Huron Development Corporation, the Huron Chamber of Commerce, the Sertoma Club and the Huron Symphony. His volunteerism was not limited to the Huron community, which was evidenced by his service on the Board of Trustees for the National Soft Drinks Association, as president and director for the Midwest Canners Corporation, and as president of the North Dakota and South Dakota Bottlers Association.
His numerous awards included the Huron Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Civic Service Award in 1987, the Huron Plainsman Freedom Award in 1987, and his induction into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 1997.
Earl loved South Dakota and loved giving back to the state. He was recognized in 2015 as South Dakota's Philanthropist of the Year. His philanthropy had a significant impact on numerous projects and organizations, especially the Nordby Wellness Center in Huron, the Mitchell Technical Institute, and the purchase and donation of the Huron University Campus to the city of Huron for the Splash Central waterpark. The Nordby 4-H Exhibit Hall, which is currently being constructed on the State Fairgrounds in Huron, is a major beneficiary of his generosity and a lasting legacy to his commitment to youth.
Earl was generous in his financial support of numerous organizations, including the nurses training program at Dakota Wesleyan University, James Valley Christian School, Campbell Park Summer Entertainment Program, Huron Backpack Program, Huron United Way, People's Transit system, Pepsi Soccer Fields, South Dakota State Fair, Huron Symphony Orchestra, Pepsi Theater Renovation , the purchase and conversion of the former St. John's Hospital to Huron Regional Medical Center, DWU football program equipment, Mt. Dew Softball Fields, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, and Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Shirley; a brother, Roger; and a sister, Maxine.
He is survived by his two daughters and sons-in law, Diane and Dan DesLauriers of Mitchell and Linda and Howard Scher of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has four grandchildren who gave him much pride and joy, Linda (Ross) Cimpl of Mitchell, Martin (Amy) DesLauriers of Sioux Falls, Sara Wilkerson of Madison, Wisconsin and Nick Wilkerson of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and three great-grandchildren, Charlee and Porter Cimpl and Harvey DesLauriers. Lorraine Alexander was a special friend of Earl's as well as the entire Nordby family.