Floyd Nightingale, age 90, of Osceola and formerly of Huron, peacefully passed away Wednesday, January 27, 2021, at the Huron Regional Medical Center.

His funeral service was held at 10:30 AM, Sunday at Faith Mennonite Church, rural Iroquois, with burial in the church cemetery.

Floyd Nightingale was born on December 8, 1930, to Willie and Mandina (Smith) Nightingale, Dad was the fifth of six children. He spent his growing up years on the family farm near Chickasha, Oklahoma. Dad enjoyed recounting many interesting stories from his childhood as he grew older.

On December 24, 1944, at the age of 14, Dad was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite. All throughout his life, he was a devoted and sincere Christian.

Dad married the love of his life, Betty Lou Schmidt, on November 16, 1952, at Greensburg, Kansas. The couple made their first home in Chickasha, Oklahoma. During the early years of their marriage, Dad and Mom spent two years in 1W service at Larned, Kansas, where they made lasting friendships. In 1958, Dad and Mom moved to a farm north of Iroquois, South Dakota. After a time, Dad began to work as a carpenter. Many houses materialized from this passion, and special bonds were shaped with their apartment tenants. After sixteen years of marriage, a precious baby girl, Marianne Kaye, joined their family in 1968. She grew up helping her parents build apartments. Dad and Mom made their home in Huron for over 40 years.

Countless people were blessed by Dad's gift of singing. He had many favorite songs and whenever there was singing, Dad was usually in the midst of it, beating time. He also enjoyed teaching music and singing songs by memory with his congregation.

Dad was a hardworking person all his life. You could always count on him to give his honest opinion. He loved his family and prayed for them often by name. He will be deeply missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings.

We who remain to honor his memory include his loving wife, Betty Lou Nightingale of Osceola; his daughter, Marianne and her husband, Brent Kenagy of Homeworth, Ohio; two granddaughters, Kayla Joy Kenagy and Emily Anne Kenagy; special nieces and nephews; and close friends, Murray and Shanon Toews, Leroy and Sherri Beachy and Clem and Peggy Yoder.

View Floyd's Floral Arrangements