Lawrence F. Spilde, son of Edward and Louise (Marquette) Spilde, was born February 6, 1924 at Hetland, South Dakota. He grew up on the family farm west of Badger, South Dakota where he attended grade school and church. He graduated from Arlington High School and served in the U.S. Army in 1945 and 1946. Lawrence was united in marriage to Merilyn M. Goodhope on September 7, 1947 in Hurley, South Dakota. After their marriage they farmed in Kingsbury and Hamlin Counties until moving into Estelline in 1984. After their retirement they spent 15 winters in Texas with many Estelline Winter Texans. Merilyn died on October 31, 2011 and Lawrence continued to live in Estelline. He died on Monday, December 28, 2015 at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown at the age of 91 years.

Lawrence was a member of the United Church of Christ, the American Legion and had served on the board of the Estelline Community Oil, country school board, church board, and was a 4-H leader. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing pool and being outdoors and was a charter member of the Hamlin Sportsman Club.

Grateful for having shared his life are two sons, Gerald of Estelline, Terry and his wife Paula of Highmore, SD; one daughter Sandra Rasmussen and her husband Richard of Chamberlain, SD; seven grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Merilyn, his parents, seven brothers and two sisters.

His funeral service will be 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at the United Church of Christ in Estelline. Visitation will be one hour preceding services at the church.