Earl Leon WESTPHAL

WESTPHAL, RUTH, WILLIAMS, CHRISTIANSEN, HARPSTER, CRAIN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/9/2017 at 19:08:42

June 16, 1933 ---- May 25, 2017

Earl Leon Westphal, 83 years old, died peacefully on May 25, 2017, with family by his side. He was born at his parent’s home in rural Greenfield, Iowa on June 16, 1933, the oldest of three children. Earl attended a one-room schoolhouse in Summerset Township through eighth grade. He helped his father on the family farm in the midst of his four uncles and grandfather. His job was to help harrow the ground with the work horses, lovingly called the “Junes.”

He married Darlene Ruth on December 20, 1952. He worked in Greenfield for a few years and then moved to Storm Lake as a hired hand on a farm. Their time in rural Humboldt, Iowa produced fond memories. Each month Earl and Darlene got together with other couples to play cards and exchange stories. They moved to Belmond, Iowa with two daughters, Bethany and Laurie, in order to manage the Mobile gas station. He enjoyed servicing cars and trucks, especially anything that needed mechanical attention. Their son, Todd, was born in Belmond.

Shortly thereafter, Earl began long-haul trucking, including trips to the East Coast. His kids especially enjoyed when he had a load from Hershey, Pennsylvania, as there might be some leftover chocolate for them when he returned. Later, he began driving for Conoco Oil Company. He transferred with this company to Santa Maria, California. He earned a safety record of driving over two million miles.

He and his wife then relocated to Kingman, Arizona. They have been residents here for 15 years. He never seemed to meet a stranger and, if they lingered too long, Earl would gladly share a story or two.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Ellen Westphal, brother-in-law, Elbert Williams and nephew, Tim Christiansen. He is survived by his wife, Darlene, of 64 years and sisters, Shirley Williams and Beverly Christiansen, children, Bethany (Terry) Harpster, Laurette (Rich) Crain, and Todd (Carol) Westphal; his seven grandchildren; Heather, Chrystal, Cortney, Candace, Caleb, David and Aren; and his three great-grandchildren; Ashton, Zoe, and Ezekiel.

A celebration of life service was held at the Hilltop Foursquare Church in Kingman, Arizona on May 30, 2017, with burial services to be held later in Fontanelle Iowa Cemetery.

Kingman Daily Miner --- Kingman, Arizona
June 9, 2017

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Earl and Darlene Westphal were married Dec. 20, 1952, in Greenfield, Iowa. They will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary with a party beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday [June 8, 2013] at Hilltop Foursquare Church, 2215 Emerson Ave., Kingman. Of their three children, all are coming; of their seven grandchildren, six are coming; and one of their two great-grandchildren will be coming. The Westphals have asked that no gifts be given, just your blessing.

https://kdminer.com/news/2013/jun/02/60th-anniversary-earl-darlene-westphal/