Edward Harvey 'Ed' Tubbs, Sr., age 81, of Edgemont, SD passed away June 12, 2008 at Custer Regional Senior Care Center in Custer, SD after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Ed was born June 18, 1926 at the Tubbs Ranch in Minnekahta, SD to Carl A. and Winnie J. (Wallace) Tubbs. He attended Dry Creek elementary school and graduated from the Edgemont High School in 1943. Ed and Marjorie (Hardman) were united in marriage on October 17, 1948 in Igloo, SD. This union was blessed with three children: Edward Jr., Ben and Melanie.
Over the years Ed was employed at Mines Development, Edgemont; Hills Material, Hot Springs, SD and Tinton Coal, Gillette, WY. His greatest joy was music, especially singing. He sang with the Mount Rushmore Shrine of Democracy Chorus in Rapid City, SD and church choirs where he lived, including Edgemont, Hot Springs and Gillette. He was also a member of the Community Choir singing in the Christmas Cantatas. If there was a piano playing it was not unusual for him to jump up and sing wherever it might be that was being played.
Ed was very active in the Odd Fellow Lodge holding memberships in the Edgemont Lodge #131 and Casper, WY. Lodge #22. He served as Grand Master of South Dakota and South Dakota Grand Patriarch of Encampment. He was a member the Canton serving as Department Commander and his present rank was Retired Colonel. Ed belonged to the Jedadia Smith Corral of Westerners International, serving as Sheriff and he was also on the Board of Directors of Mondale Heights Retirement Home in Newcastle, WY. Ed is a member of the Methodist Church of Edgemont presently serving as Historian. He also served on the Edgemont City Council and was a retired member of the Edgemont Fire Department.
Edward is survived by his wife, Marjorie; two sons, Edward Tubbs, Jr. of Edgemont; Benjamin Tubbs of Hot Springs; one daughter, Melanie (Jim) Ditsch of Topeka, KS; two brothers, Robert (Virginia) Tubbs of Edgemont; Neal (Verna) Tubbs of Beatrice, NE; one sister, Joy Hoar of Green Valley, AZ; grand daughter, Amber Tubbs of Rapid City; two grandsons, Paul Ditsch of Topeka, KS; Matthew Ditsch of Gillette; step-grandson, Gary Ditsch of Lexington, KY; great- grandson, Kristopher Tubbs of Salt Lake City, UT and step great-grandson, Ryan Wagner of Salt Lake City.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Wallace and two grandsons, Brian and Jason Tubbs.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Sunday, June 15, 2008 at the United Church in Edgemont.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m., Monday, June 16, 2008 at the United Church in Edgemont with Rev. Floyd Mills, Rev. Norma Mills and Dr. J Edwin Coates officiating. Interment will follow at the Edgemont Cemetery in Edgemont.
A memorial has been established to benefit either the Edgemont United Church Building Fund or the Edgemont Ambulance Service.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs, SD. Written condolences can be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.