Official Obituary of
Marvin M. Barkley
October 2, 1917 ~ January 6, 2018 (age 100) 100 Years Old
Marvin Barkley Obituary
Marvin M. Barkley, age 100, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Saturday, January 6, 2018, at the local hospital. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2018, at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown. Rev. Bob Waite will officiate. Music will be provided by A. J. Sherrill as organist with Paula Breid as soloist. The family is requested to meet at the chapel on Friday by 1:00 p.m. for a prayer service.
Visitation will be at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. and prior to services on Friday.
Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Military graveside honors will be conducted by Codington County Post #17 of the American Legion and the Frank H. Adams Post #750 of Veterans of Foreign Wars, both of Watertown and the Funeral Honors Team of the SD Army National Guard. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Watertown AA Group, Del Bertsch, Marvin Heins and present and former employees of Barkley Truck Lines. Active pallbearers will be: Ray Beard, Mike Reilly, Dave Mattingly, Myron Keltgen, Chris Bartelt and John Hanes.
Marvin was born on October 2, 1917, to Millard and Anna (Johnson) Barkley in Watertown, SD. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1935 and from Watertown Business College in 1937. Marvin worked for Swift & Company from 1937 to 1941, first in Marshall, MN, and then in Breckenridge, MN. He served with the 34th Signal Company of the US Army from 1941 to 1945. Marvin spent 40 months overseas in Ireland, North Africa and Italy, earning the Bronze Star.
On July 19, 1945, Marvin married Mary Lou Phillips in Marshall, MN. He then returned to work with Swift & Company from 1945 to 1947 in Fresno, CA. Marvin and Mary Lou moved to Watertown in 1947 and Marvin started working with his dad at Barkley Truck Line and later took over the business when his dad passed away in 1948. Mary Lou passed away following a car accident in 1955. Marvin sold Barkley Truck Line to Michael Barkley and retired in 1977, but continued to be associated with the truck line. In 1990, he moved to Sioux Falls, SD, and worked in sales for the truck line.
He was a life-time member of the Elks, the VFW, the American Legion and ‘UTC‘(United Commercial Travelers #291). Watertown residents knew Marvin as ‘Mr. Mayflower' and a dedicated member of the Gilbert Avenue ‘AA' Group. In Sioux Falls, he was a member of the Moose Lodge and the Center for Active Generation Golden Age. Marvin enjoyed dancing, traveling and spending time on the computer. Sioux Falls residents knew Marvin as ‘that person that really likes the dance floor', as he was still dancing three times a week at the age of 91.
Marvin is survived by his three children: Barb (Marvin) Heins of Rochester, MN, Michael (Renae) Barkley of Louisville, KY, and Patricia (Delmar) Bertsch of Watertown; one daughter-in-law, Linda Barkley, of Watertown; 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou; his beloved companion, Irene Franken; and his parents.
When: January 11, 2018 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
When: January 12, 2018 1:30pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
Visitation will be at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. and prior to services on Friday.
Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Military graveside honors will be conducted by Codington County Post #17 of the American Legion and the Frank H. Adams Post #750 of Veterans of Foreign Wars, both of Watertown and the Funeral Honors Team of the SD Army National Guard. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Watertown AA Group, Del Bertsch, Marvin Heins and present and former employees of Barkley Truck Lines. Active pallbearers will be: Ray Beard, Mike Reilly, Dave Mattingly, Myron Keltgen, Chris Bartelt and John Hanes.
Marvin was born on October 2, 1917, to Millard and Anna (Johnson) Barkley in Watertown, SD. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1935 and from Watertown Business College in 1937. Marvin worked for Swift & Company from 1937 to 1941, first in Marshall, MN, and then in Breckenridge, MN. He served with the 34th Signal Company of the US Army from 1941 to 1945. Marvin spent 40 months overseas in Ireland, North Africa and Italy, earning the Bronze Star.
On July 19, 1945, Marvin married Mary Lou Phillips in Marshall, MN. He then returned to work with Swift & Company from 1945 to 1947 in Fresno, CA. Marvin and Mary Lou moved to Watertown in 1947 and Marvin started working with his dad at Barkley Truck Line and later took over the business when his dad passed away in 1948. Mary Lou passed away following a car accident in 1955. Marvin sold Barkley Truck Line to Michael Barkley and retired in 1977, but continued to be associated with the truck line. In 1990, he moved to Sioux Falls, SD, and worked in sales for the truck line.
He was a life-time member of the Elks, the VFW, the American Legion and ‘UTC‘(United Commercial Travelers #291). Watertown residents knew Marvin as ‘Mr. Mayflower' and a dedicated member of the Gilbert Avenue ‘AA' Group. In Sioux Falls, he was a member of the Moose Lodge and the Center for Active Generation Golden Age. Marvin enjoyed dancing, traveling and spending time on the computer. Sioux Falls residents knew Marvin as ‘that person that really likes the dance floor', as he was still dancing three times a week at the age of 91.
Marvin is survived by his three children: Barb (Marvin) Heins of Rochester, MN, Michael (Renae) Barkley of Louisville, KY, and Patricia (Delmar) Bertsch of Watertown; one daughter-in-law, Linda Barkley, of Watertown; 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou; his beloved companion, Irene Franken; and his parents.
Service Details.
Visitation
When: January 11, 2018 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
Service
When: January 12, 2018 1:30pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
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Marvin Barkley
October 2, 1917-January 6, 2018
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