Floyd Meek

Floyd Meek, 89, of Highmore, passed away Saturday, March 26, 2011 at the V.A. Medical Center at Ft. Meade, SD.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 31, 2011 at the United Methodist Church, Highmore with Pastor Martin Earl officiating. Burial followed in the Highmore Cemetery with military honors. Visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 30, 2011 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service all at Luze Funeral Home, Highmore.

Floyd Howard Meek, son of Edward and Della (Figley) Meek was born in Highmore, SD on September 7, 1921.  He made his home in the Chapelle Township south of Holabird for 83 years, only leaving during his time he served in World War II.  Floyd attended the country school at Chapelle for eight years and then attended and graduated from high school at Highmore, SD in May 1939.

Floyd volunteered and entered the Navy in September 1939.  He took basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Station.  After completion of basic he was assigned to the USS Honolulu, a light cruiser.  Floyd was stationed on the Honolulu from December 6, 1939 to September 20, 1944.  They traversed in and out of the ports on the West Coast and then the South Pacific until he arrived at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.  Floyd’s ship was docked at port when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese on December 7, 1941.  They sustained light damage to the cruiser and were able to come back to the States for repairs.  After repairs they went to Kodiak Alaska and stayed there for three months, returning back to the States for additional repairs.  Floyd and his fellow servicemen then returned to the South Pacific where they saw much action. 

Floyd’s Navy days were some of his proudest moments.  His children, grandchildren and great grandchildren loved hearing Grandpa share his history of World War II and his survival of the attack on Pearl Harbor.  Floyd and his wife Mary attended many stateside Pearl Harbor Reunions over the years and especially enjoyed returning to Hawaii for the 30th, 40th, and 50th reunions.  While at the 30th reunion Floyd took out a lifetime membership of the National Pearl Harbor Association.  He and his son Delmas returned for the 65th reunion in 2006.  Floyd also enjoyed a special trip with his son in law, Bill to the World War II Memorial in Washington DC.  Floyd passed his legacy of commitment to his Country on to both of his sons, Delmas and Charles as well as his grandson Jim.  After 6 years, 4 months, and 13 days in the US Navy he was honorably discharged and went back to Holabird to ranch with his father.  Floyd met and later married his wife of 61 years, Mary Mason on July 3, 1947.  Together they lived on their farm south of Holabird for 58 years moving to Highmore in September 2005.  Of this union four children were born, Delmas Meek, Peggy Sell, Jane (Bill) Dunbar and Charles Meek.

Floyd always found time to serve on many community Boards including the School Board, Township Board in Chapelle and Venture Communications for 28 years.  He was also honored to receive the Freedom Fighter Award from the American Legion.  Floyd was an honored member of the SD Chapter of Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, American Legion, the VFW, and the Elks.  Floyd loved farming, took good care of his livestock and despite Mary’s frustration the cats on the farm too.  Floyd had a great love for opening day of pheasant season and golfing.  He looked forward to when the weather got warm enough to head to the golf course and play best ball.  He played by himself, shooting two balls probably still with more accuracy than most of us do with one.

Anyone who knew Floyd will remember him as a quiet man but when he spoke, you listened because it was probably pretty important.  If you paid a visit to the farm you could find Floyd sitting at the head of the table, smiling and watching his friends and family around him.  He was a card shark like none other and wasn’t afraid to take his grandchildren’s money away in a hot hand of 31.  They were just always thankful that the money really came from Grandma Mary’s secret stash!

Floyd was loved and looked up to by many including his four grandchildren, Leslie Torpy, Keith Meek, Jennifer (Brooke) Leighty and Jim (Erin) Dunbar, who share fond memories of riding on the tractor, going pheasant hunting, working hard on the farm, summers in Holabird, trying to figure out ways to beat Grandpa in cards and his world famous squeeze you until you can’t breathe and his hearing aid whistles hugs.  Floyd shared those same hugs with his 11 great grandchildren, Teasha, Teah and Tennae born to Leslie, Daulton and Kaycee Jo born to Jennifer, Kyran, Kylar, Kameron, and Kinley Jo born to Keith and Tate, Hadley and Keegan born to Jim.

Floyd was preceded in death by his wife Mary, his son Charles, his parents Ed and Della, and siblings, Asa, Goldie, Delmas, and Fred.

We would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Ft. Meade’s Hospice Wing and volunteers for their dedication, love, compassion and care that Dad received while there.