Charles Pyle, 79, died Friday, May 11, 2007 at his daughters residence near Newfolden, MN.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at the Evangelical Free Church in Newfolden, MN with Pastor Gary Barrett officiating. Burial will follow at Bethesda Cemetery in Marsh Grove Township, rural Newfolden, MN.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 15, 2007 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral at church.

Charles Everest Pyle, Sr. was born on the family farm October 29, 1927 in Concord Township, Pennsylvania the son of Ernest and Irene (Bond) Pyle. He was baptized into the Christian faith in 1953 in a Methodist Church near his home and attended country school through the 8th grade.

At the age of 16, Charles entered into service with the United States Army and later transferred into the 82nd Airborne Division, 504th Paratrooper Infantry Regiment. His paratrooper regiment was the first to land in France the night before the D-Day invasion at Normandy. He was honorably discharged and returned to Quarryville, Pennsylvania where he farmed and drove truck.

On October 17, 1953 he was united in marriage to Roslena Metzger at Bethel Church in Quarryville, Pennsylvania. They lived in several different places in Pennsylvania and to this union there were ten children born, Charles, Jeffrey, Jill, Cheryl, Randall Scott, Guy Timothy, Teresa, Judith, Susan and Jere Matthew.

Through his years, Charlie worked several different places. He dairy farmed in Pennsylvania and in 1973 the family moved to Newfolden, MN where he engaged in small grain and beef farming. They also lived in Pinedale, Wyoming, Bombay, New York, and Bethel, Alaska. Following the death of his wife on March 31, 1998, Charlie went long-haul trucking with his son, Tim. He then stayed in Utah and worked on a ranch near Green River where he farmed and raised buffalo. In 2004, Charlie returned to Newfolden to live with his daughter, Judy.

He enjoyed reading, watching news and the history channel, was a Chevy car NASCAR fan; he especially enjoyed playing Rook and spending time with his family.

Survivors include children, Chuck (LeAnn) Pyle of Thermopolis, WY, Jeff (Peggy) Pyle of Newfolden, MN, Jill (Jim) Blades of Sitka, AK, Cheryl (Randy) Nelson of Candler, NC, Scott (Dawn) Pyle of Thief River Falls, MN, Tim (Pat) Pyle of Sault Ste. Marie, MI, Terry (Jon) Lerud of Hampden, MA, Judy (Myles) Hogberg of Newfolden, MN, Sue (Keith) VanBlaricum of Wasilla, AK, Matt (Sheila) Pyle of Unalaska, AK; 33 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; brothers, Horace (Edna) Pyle, Bob (_____) Pyle, Jim (Joyce) Pyle and Ted (Barbara) Pyle; sister, Doris; brother-in-law, Ted (Donna) Metzger all of Pennsylvania; brother-in-law, Ray Keene of Maryland; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Rosy in 1998; granddaughter, Erica Pyle in 1979; and brothers, Speed and Jerry.

Special Music: Myles Hogberg "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" with accompaniment by Judy Hogberg
Accompanist: Beverly Lindstrom
Congregational Hymns: "In The Garden" & "The Old Rugged Cross"
Casketbearers: Charlie's grandsons
Honorary Casketbearers: Charlie's granddaughters