February 9, 1944 - July 11, 2021
Floyd’s life began with a challenging disability affecting his balance and coordination. He received schooling and therapy away from home at Crippled Children’s Hospital and School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Through much perseverance and determination, he finally learned to walk when he was 9 years old. Then he returned home to his family is Britton, South Dakota, and attended school. Despite needing to spend much more time on homework than his classmates since his writing was so slow, he was determined to do his best. He graduated from Britton High School in 1965, and then he attended Northern State College in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He received a B.S. degree in Elementary/Special Education in 1969 and an M.S. in Elementary/Special Education in 1976.
It was while attending Northern State that Floyd was “born again” in July of 1969 after attending a Billy Graham Crusade. He remembered that the power of the Holy Spirit allowed him to walk down several old, wobbly bleacher steps without stumbling to get to the counseling area. The counselor shared John 1:12 with him and Floyd made it his. After that, he studied and worked hard to learn more about the Lord Jesus Christ through personal Bible study and correspondence Bible lessons. He also regularly attended the First Baptist Church in Aberdeen, and he was very helped and influenced by Pastor Salem. During this time, Floyd was used by the Holy Spirit to share the gospel with his mom, sister, and nieces in Britton and see them make professions of faith.
Floyd began his teaching career at a special learning school in Denver, Colorado, but in late 1970 he returned to South Dakota. He was out of work for almost 3 months, and during that time he studied the Word of God and grew very thankful for that time. The Lord gradually put a great desire in his heart to enter full time ministry. He met the love of his life (“his” Sharon) in March of 1973. After attending a very intensive Child Evangelism Fellowship training school in the summer of 1974, he and Sharon were married September 7, 1974. Floyd then began full time ministry by becoming the North Central Area Director of Child Evangelism Fellowship. He also had a deep desire to become an ordained independent minister, and he was later ordained at Carter Gospel Fellowship in Carter, South Dakota, on December 12, 1975. He was unable to continue in full time ministry; so in 1976 he went back to teaching in Edgemont, South Dakota. He continued to study God’s word, grow in grace and knowledge, teach Sunday School, and share the Gospel with anyone he could.
Floyd’s family was very important to him. His first son, Stephen, was born in 1975, and his second son, Philip, was born in 1977. He loved spending time with his family, doing things together with them, and teaching hem spiritual truths. He loved doing the same with his two grandsons (Daniel and Jeremiah) when they came along. he loved his nieces and nephews, his students and people in general. He always had a sense of humor – even during his last days.
In January of 2001, he was diagnosed with plasmacytoma which led to multiple myeloma. He endured alternative treatments, radiation, chemotherapy, and the Lord gave him another 20 years. After he retired from teaching, he enjoyed editing sermons from Pastor Curt Crist, and he did that until the last 3 months of his life when he developed bladder cancer, was most bedriden and in near-constant pain.
Now Floyd is present with the Lord, rejoicing, pain free, SIN FREE and has no disability!!!
