Al was born July 11, 1956 in Concordia, KS, the son of Walter and Norma (McKellips) Starkey. He was raised and educated in Clyde, KS. Al graduated from high school in Clyde. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during Vietnam. Al came to the Herreid area as a custom combiner in 1978. He met Marlene Kay Kost and they were married on August 4, 1979 in Mound City, SD. Following their marriage, they lived in Herreid where he was a well known chef/cook. They owned and operated the Cattlemen's Grill in Herreid for 6 years. Al also worked as a cook at other restaurants in the area. Since 2007 they have traveled between Minneapolis and Herreid. Al was a member of Herreid Volunteer Fire department and First Reformed Church. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, cooking, gardening, facebook and spending time with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren. Al died January 4, 2013 at his home in Herreid. He is survived by his wife, Marlene, Herreid, SD; one son, Travis Starkey and special friend Lakota, Herreid, SD; three daughters and sons-in-law: Faith and Jay Freshour, Loretto, MN, Heather and Chad Bidwell, Blaine, MN and Kimberly Starkey and Scott Williams, St. Louis Park, MN; seven grandchildren: Aalyiah, Meadow and River Freshour, Riley and Samuel Bidwell, Rhys Starkey and Noah Williams; his mother, Norma (Roland) Crays, Tobias, NE; three sisters and brothers-in-law: Maggie and Bruce Graham, Tobias, NE, Pam and Brian Lauritsen, Munden, KS and Mary Snavely, Concordia, KS, mother-in-law, Irene Kost, Herreid, SD, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Walter; brother, Samuel Starkey; step mother, Jean Starkey, his grandparents, his father-in-law: Adam Kost and a niece, Sandy.