Rev. Earl Potter

Rev. Earl Potter, 94, formerly of Sioux Center, IA, died Thursday, January 29, 2015, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Sioux Falls, SD. A visitation with the family present will be held on Tuesday from 6-7PM at the First Evangelical Free Church, 2601 W. 69th Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57108. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 7PM at the First Evangelical Free Church in Sioux Falls with Rev. Randy Anderson officiating. A graveside committal service will be held Wednesday at 2pm at Fridhem Cemetery of rural Funk, Nebraska. The Potter family prefers memorials to Gideons International. Reverend Earl C. Potter was born January 3, 1921 in Colorado to William and Mary (Allen) Potter. During his formative and high school years, Earl lived in Sioux City, Iowa. He served his country as a part of the United States Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After becoming a Christian in 1947, he attended seminary at Trinity Bible College in Chicago, Illinois. While in seminary he met a young lady from Nebraska named, Lois Johnston, it was love at first sight. They were united in marriage on June 4, 1948 in Sioux City. After graduating in 1950, Earl served as pastor for the Evangelical Free Church at various churches in the Midwest and California. While pastoring part-time in California, he also worked for the post office, where he retired from in 1981. In their retirement years, Earl and Lois lived in Nebraska and Iowa. Lois passed away in 2007 and Earl moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he made his residence at Trail Ridge Assisted Living. Grateful for sharing his life are his four children: Pauline (Bill) Hendley of Chetwynd, BC, Canada; Pearl (Robert) Knoebel of Palmer, AK; Paul (Esther) of Sioux Center, IA and Priscilla (Tim) Durham of Sioux Falls, SD; his 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; son, Philip; granddaughter, Rachel Potter and his parents and siblings. His family is thankful for the care he received from Trail Ridge Assisted Living, Avera medical staff and Good Samaritan Nursing Home.