Earle E. Hestad was born on June 3, 1899, in Dawson, MN, the son of Edward B. and Caroline (Larson) Hestad. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Dawson and later became a member of Grace Lutheran Church. He attended and in 1918 graduated from Dawson High School. He entered the Army and became the last surviving World War I Veteran in Lac Qui Parle County.
He was united in marriage to Esther Thoreson on July 29, 1938, at the Riverside parsonage by Rev. P.O. Wee. They lived in Dawson where he worked at the American Cafe, Armour & Co., and later, served as custodian at Northwestern State Bank in Dawson.
Following a stroke in 1991, he entered the Johnson Memorial Home. He died on Sunday August, 15, 1999, at the Johnson Memorial Hospital at the age of 100 years, 2 months, and 15 days.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He enjoyed basketball and liked to watch the Twins and the Vikings on TV with his wife, Esther. Esther died on January 20, 1994, while a resident of the Johnson Memorial Home.
Earle is survived by his sister, Bertha H. Swenson of the Johnson Memorial Home; sister-in-law, Eunice (Vance) Hestad of Mpls; nieces: Barbara Lundquist, Virginia Sperry, and Effie Deno of Dawson; Joyce Bradley, Janet Croad, and Carol Ludwig of CA; Betty Sager of NV; Janice Klang of TX; and Wanda Shult of Edina; nephews: Roland Ludvigson of CA, James Hestad of WI, and Wayne Hestad of Mpls; and a cousin, Mildred Pederson of Dawson.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Esther; brothers: Clifford, Reuben, and Vance; and sister, Cora Ludvigson.