Edward Roy “Red” Ayers, 89, went to be with our Lord on December 11, 2014. He was the son of Niles Fred and Leola (Miller) Ayers, of Winnetoon, NE. He resided the majority of his adult life in both Lake Andes and Yankton, SD. He had been a resident at the Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Wakonda, SD for the last three years.

Ed was born at home in rural Winnetoon, January 10, 1925. He was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church in Verdigre, NE, where he graduated high school in 1942. Ed married his first wife, Rita O’Brien, June 28, 1951 in Armour, SD. After farming west of town for two years, Ed returned to his former work as a power lineman for the Rural Electric Association in Lake Andes and by 1970 rose to the position of General Manager of the Charles Mix County Electric Association. He actively served in the community on both church and city councils. He and his beloved wife Rita were raising their four sons in Lake Andes, when on January 1, 1972, Rita passed away.

Ed married Virginia Sprinkel on July 20, 1973 and they resided in Lake Andes until 1986 when he retired. The couple relocated for a short time to Platte before residing for 20 years in Yankton.

Ed will be remembered by those who love him not only for his large stature and physical strength but also for his tender heart toward others. He possessed an excellent work ethic, having built three homes during his lifetime. He also enjoyed working with wood, although he jokingly referred to himself as a “wood butcher”. He worked so well with wood that he made custom golf clubs in his later years. He loved to travel, golf, play cards, and garden.

Ed is survived by his wife Virginia of Wakonda; his son Mark (Kathy) Ayers of Minden, NV; son Warren (Rebecca) Ayers of Blountville, TN; daughter-in-law Bridget Ayers Wickenburg, AZ; stepdaughters Lois Butterfield (Jim) of Sioux Falls, Barbara Sprinkel, Lead, and stepson, Keith (Kathy) Sprinkle of Aberdeen; siblings Laura Schaben, Garner, IA; Bonita Mangemilli, Omaha, NE; Willard Ayers, Winnetoon, NE; sister-in-law Patricia Ayers of Schuyler, NE; 19 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Ed was preceded in death by his first wife, Rita; sons, Mike and Brian; stepdaughter Linda Sprinkel; and brothers, John (Howard), and Fred. A special thank you to Jim and Lois for all the hours of care you graciously gave to our dad when we could not be with him and to the staff at the Heritage Manor Nursing Home for the special care they provided dad during his stay.