The man did not live to see the completion of the new facility built on the South Dakota State Fairgrounds that bears his name. However, Earl Nordby lived a full life and freely gave back to the Huron and Mitchell communities.

Nordby died Tuesday at a Huron hospital at age 85. His funeral is 10:30 a.m. Monday March 7 at First Presbyterian Church, followed by a private burial.

According to KOKK Radio's Zach Nelson, Nordby made his money in the soft drink bottling industry in a territory that spanned from Salem to Kadoka. He later donated millions of dollars for Huron projects such as the Splash Central water park, Nordby Center for Recreation. The Nordby Exhibit Hall on the South Dakota State Fairgrounds is named for him.

In Mitchell, Nordby fronted the Pepsi-Cola Theater for the Performing Arts and helped fund the soccer complex. He also donated $1 million for projects at Mitchell Technical Institute.

Nordby was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 1997 and into Beverage World magazine's Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2011, Gov. Dennis Daugaard proclaimed May 6 as Earl Nordby Day.


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