Celebration of Life Service for Charles L. Finney age 87 of Mobridge will be 11:00 AM Saturday, March 18, 2017 at United Methodist Church in Mobridge. Charles passed away Monday, February 27, 2017 at Mobridge Regional Hospital. Arrangements are with Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.

The Reverend Charles Lee Finney, 87, Pastor Emeritus of the Mobridge United Methodist Church, died February 27, 2017, passing from life on Earth and entering eternal glory.

He was born October 21, 1929, to R. H. "Harry" and Lucille (Newnum) Finney in Liberty Township, Parke County, Indiana.

After finishing high school in Tangier, Indiana, he attended Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, majoring in history and psychology. He supported himself as a college student by working construction, and later passed his skill and knowledge of woodworking and carpentry to his children. At his graduation ceremony in 1951, he was recognized by the Dean for his outstanding work ethic, impressing an audience member named Darlene Moir.

After Darlene finished her degree at Asbury College in 1952, she returned to her South Dakota home. Charles soon followed. He taught school in Roscoe (she taught in Bowdle) and served as the part-time pastor of Mansfield Presbyterian Church.

Charles and Darlene married August 17, 1954, in Bristol, South Dakota. That following year they both taught school in Willow Lake, and he substituted some for the Methodist pastor in Clark. In the summer of 1955, he attended the Annual Conference of the South Dakota Methodist Church, seeking a part-time preaching appointment. Instead he was offered a full-time appointment as the pastor of Frankfort and Ashton Methodist churches. In the tradition of itinerant Methodist clergy, he and the family moved often. He served parishes with churches (Methodist or United Methodist unless otherwise noted) in Frankfort and Ashton; Seneca; Cresbard, DeVoe and Scatterwood; Buffalo Gap, Fairburn and Pringle; Hurley, Davis and Viborg; Britton and Langford; Hitchcock, Broadland and LaDell; Burke, Herrick, and Jamison (Nebraska); White Lake (united congregation of United Methodist and Presbyterian) and Underwood; Colman and Chester; Mobridge and for part of the time Grace Congregational Church; and Faith and Marcus (Presbyterian).

He was ordained as a Deacon in 1956 and an Elder in 1960. In 1994, he retired and he and Darlene returned to Mobridge. In 2004 he was honored by the Dakotas United Methodist Annual Conference for his 50 years in ministry.

Charles was a lifelong reader, student, historian, genealogist and photographer. He completed graduate coursework at Asbury, Garrett, Iliff and McCormick Seminaries and at Northern State College in Aberdeen, South Dakota. His service to the United Methodist Church included membership and leadership in several historical boards and commissions. He won many photography awards at Mobridge Area Art Shows and participated in organizing the shows for several years.
He also demonstrated a passion for service and social justice throughout his life. One of his first plane trips involved going to Denver to testify at a congressional hearing. He served as a scout leader, school bus driver, volunteer fireman and emergency medical technician.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents and by his sister, Marcia Helen (Finney) Fabert. He was also preceded in death by two infant children, Carol Finney and Michael Finney.

Survivors include Darlene (Moir) Finney, his beloved wife of 62 years; daughter Cheryl Finney of Sioux Falls; son Richard Finney and his wife Joyce Rutherford of Morrison, Colorado, granddaughter Hannah Rutherford Beavers and her husband Jon Beavers of Hollywood, California, granddaughter Eliza Finney of Morrison, Colorado; son James Finney and his wife Christine Finney of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and grandchildren Robert Finney of Ruston, Louisiana, Katherine Finney of Ruston, Louisiana, and Braden Finney of Bogalusa, Louisiana; and brother-in-law Marion Fabert of University Place, Washington.