Floyd Oliver Gabriel was the third of seven children born to Fred and Frances (Hunn) Gabriel, at their home 13 miles south of Faith, South Dakota, on February 8, 1913.  Floyd worked at a "Jew" store in Faith while attending high school and still graduated in 3-1/2 years.  His studies included four years of math and a course of Latin.  He had been accepted at the School of Mines to study engineering, but was unable to attend because of finance reasons.

During the Depression, he worked as a sheepherder for $35 a month.  Some of his challenges included trailing 2,000 sheep from Faith to Wood for winter pasture.  In 1939, he acquired some land 20 miles north of Quinn.  Floyd and Tressa Coleman were married on March 17, 1941.  To this union, three children were born: Beverly, Larry, and Ruby.

In the late 40's, they changed from running sheep to cattle.  1952 was a year to remember: a new house, new car, and a trip across the Great Divide to the Pacific Ocean.

Floyd will be remembered as a mighty tough bronc rider, a man who could figure in his head as well as on paper, for his fairness and his friends.

Floyd was active for many years in the Dowling Community Church and the Meade County Larger Parish.

Floyd was one of the originial contributors to build the Philip Nursing Home... a home where he has lived for the past 11 years.

Floyed leaves to mourn his wife, Tressa Gabriel of Creighton; two daughters, Beverly Hamann and her husband, Herb, and their children, Breck and Arla, all of Clear Lake, SD, and Ruby Gabriel and her friend, Doug Drake, both of Pierre, SD; a son, Larry and his wife, Charlotte Gabriel and their children, Jeff and his wife Heather, of Cottonwood, SD, and Mindy Metzger and her husband, Lloyd, and their daughter, Gabrielle, of Ithaca, New York; two brothers, Earl Gabriel of Creighton and Frank Gabriel of Faith; two sisters, Irna Collins of Faith and Freda Johnson of Delta, Colorado; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Floyd was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, John and Paul Gabriel.

A memorial has been established.

Services
Monday, February 9, 1998
2:00 p.m.
United Methodist Church
Wall, South Dakota

Officiating
Pastor Gary Geiman and David Dick

Music
Carol Hahn - Organist
Debbie Smith - Vocalist

Ushers
Bill Leonard - Delbert Sebade - Bernard Foster

Active Pallbearers
Clifford Keyser - Steve Clements
Marvin Coleman - Gary Allison
Byron Denke - Kirk Cordes

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Wall Cemetery
Wall, South Dakota