Earl Farnum

Earl "Lucky Cowboy" Farnum, born on January 18, 1939, in Aberdeen, SD, left us on January 21, 2026, after spending a fulfilling 87 years on this earthly plane. As his wife, Naomi, I am honored to share this tribute to my beloved Earl. As Maya Angelou once declared, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Earl, with his lively spirit, made everyone feel cherished, loved, and comforted.

Earl was a man of many talents and accomplishments. A proud graduate of Boys Town in 1957, he went on to become a licensed barber in South Dakota. He later found his calling with Firestone Tire and Rubber, where he loyally served until his retirement in 1998. Yet, his restless spirit couldn't stay away from work, and he became a security guard for Securitos in Des Moines, Iowa. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, family gatherings, and road trips, which brought him immense joy and satisfaction. He was a lifetime member of the Boys Town alumni and a staunch supporter of the NRA. But to Earl, his greatest achievement was his family, who he held dearer than anything else.

Earl's life was enriched by his family, who loved and cherished him. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Naomi; his children Merle, Earl, and Christine (William) Cook; his grandchildren, Alexander (Katey) Farnum, Jazzmyne Cook, Lacey Farnum, and Caleen (Josh) Jeffries; his great-grandchildren, Dakota, Hailey, Bella, Eric, Kinsley, Scott, Haizley, Kayden, and Kaselyn; his step-grandchildren, Dustin Simerson, William Jr., and Benjamin Cook; his mother-in-law, Sue Hesseltine, and his beloved aunt, Eva Rehling. Earl was preceded in death by his parents, Merrill and Marie, his grandsons Ethan and Harley, his brothers Orrin and Orley, his great-grandson Jayden, his sister Delilah, his daughter-in-law Candy, and his in-laws Mary, Don, Jack, Hazel, and Alice.

Earl's life was a testament to Robert Louis Stevenson's words, "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant." Earl planted seeds of love, kindness, and courage that will continue to grow in the hearts of those who knew him.

Please visit Earl's memorial page to share your memories and upload photos that celebrate his life. The joy he brought into our lives will live on through these shared stories and images.