The memorial service for Eldon L. Rikli, 84 year-old Enid resident will be at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at Anderson-Burris Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Danny Marney officiating.  Services are under the direction of Anderson-Burris Funeral Home. 

  Eldon was born on July 1, 1925 in Ames, Oklahoma the son of Albert Rikli and Bessie (Bracken) Rikli and died Saturday, January 16, 2010.

 He grew up in the Drummond – Waukomis area and attended school in Drummond.  He joined United States Army on October 21, 1943. He was a member of the 756th Field Artillery Battalion and served during the Pacific Theatre.

 After his service he married Emma Louise Fyffe on July 30, 1947.  They made their home in Drummond where Eldon worked with the Champlin phone company to help build and maintain phone lines.  In 1949, he started farming, custom harvesting , and raising cattle for a living.  Eldon also worked for Garfield County. They moved to Grand Lake in 1984 where they stayed until moving back to Enid in 1988.  After retiring Eldon and Emma traveled to the numerous reunions of the 756th Field Artillery Battalion.  He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. 

  He is survived by his wife of the home; three daughters; Margaret Ann Dick and her husband Randy of Sharon, KS; Jane Darlene Kimball and her husband Bill of Pueblo, CO; Mary Jo Fleer and her husband Little Dan of Drummond, OK; one son, B.C. Rikli and his wife Deanne of Enid; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one sister, Joyce Trostel of Woodlands, TX; one brother-in-law, Howard Nixon of Alva, OK; and sister in law Kathy Reim of Enid.

 Eldon is preceded in death by his parents; one son, Don Rikli; two sisters; and one brother.

 Memorial contributions may be made to OMRF – Cancer Division or Hospice Circle of Love.