Vernon T. Eklund, 92, Renton, WA, formerly of Kenmare, ND, passed away January 31, 2006, in Renton, Washington, surrounded by members of his loving family.
Vernon was born in Kandiyohi Township of Burke County, ND, on March 30, 1913, the son of Frank and Kjerstine (Mickelsen) Eklund. Vernon left school after the 7th grade to help on the family farm after his father's heart attack.
On February 14, 1940, he married Eunice Bornstedt. From 1941 to 1945, Vernon and Eunice lived in California, where he worked for Columbia Construction doing a variety of war-related work. They returned to Kenmare in 1945, and purchased the Eklund Blacksmith Shop, where he served the city and surrounding farming community until he retired in 1981. Vernon's ornamental ironwork can be seen at the Johnson Field, Nazareth Lutheran Church, Little Butte Cemetery and many other locations. He also farmed in the Coteau area until his retirement in 1981. Eunice passed away on September 18, 1988.
During his years in Kenmare, he was very active in a variety of community organizations. In 1947, Vernon organized a Kenmare baseball team known as the Lakers and played catcher. He was a dedicated volunteer fireman, retiring in 1997, after 50 years of service. He served as Fire Chief for a period of time. He and his brother, Walt, built a fire engine from scratch using the chassis of a new 1946 Chevy. The truck still runs and is used in parades today. He served on the city council, church council, was a member of the Lion's club, president of the Senior Citizens Center, worked at the Food Bank and sang in the church choir. Vernon always had a heart for serving others and this led him to become a Senior Companion with Lutheran Social Services in 2001 at the age of 88. After moving to Kent to spend the winters with his daughter, he volunteered at the Food Bank at King of Kings Lutheran Church.
Vernon had a passion for music and started playing in a family band with his sister and brothers in 1934. None of the brothers and sisters ever took lessons, but taught themselves to play several instruments. In 1938, the band expanded to include Eunice and her brother, Donald Bornstedt. The Eklund family band played for over 60 years under the names of Dakota Canaries, Eklund Brothers Band, Blue Notes and the Rhythm Skyliners, playing for dances as far away as Montana. In 1990, Vernon joined a group of women from the community to form a small musical group, playing at the Senior Citizen Center, the Baptist home, the hospital and some local events. Vernon could be seen at many occasions, playing his "bones" in time with the music. His bones were 100-year old rib bones, given to him by his father.
He was a servant at heart, a man of faith, of great integrity, unselfish and had a deep love for his community, family and his friends. To those who knew him well, he was a champion.
His loving family includes: daughters, Carolyn Johnson, Pequot Lakes, MN; Jackie (Leon) Kinunen, Kent, WA, and son, Terry (Karyn) Eklund, Covington, WA; 8 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brother, Art (Arlene) Eklund, Bowbells, ND.
Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Kjerstine Eklund; wife, Eunice; brothers, Franklin, Walt, and Earl; sister, Eleanor Egger.
Vernon was born in Kandiyohi Township of Burke County, ND, on March 30, 1913, the son of Frank and Kjerstine (Mickelsen) Eklund. Vernon left school after the 7th grade to help on the family farm after his father's heart attack.
On February 14, 1940, he married Eunice Bornstedt. From 1941 to 1945, Vernon and Eunice lived in California, where he worked for Columbia Construction doing a variety of war-related work. They returned to Kenmare in 1945, and purchased the Eklund Blacksmith Shop, where he served the city and surrounding farming community until he retired in 1981. Vernon's ornamental ironwork can be seen at the Johnson Field, Nazareth Lutheran Church, Little Butte Cemetery and many other locations. He also farmed in the Coteau area until his retirement in 1981. Eunice passed away on September 18, 1988.
During his years in Kenmare, he was very active in a variety of community organizations. In 1947, Vernon organized a Kenmare baseball team known as the Lakers and played catcher. He was a dedicated volunteer fireman, retiring in 1997, after 50 years of service. He served as Fire Chief for a period of time. He and his brother, Walt, built a fire engine from scratch using the chassis of a new 1946 Chevy. The truck still runs and is used in parades today. He served on the city council, church council, was a member of the Lion's club, president of the Senior Citizens Center, worked at the Food Bank and sang in the church choir. Vernon always had a heart for serving others and this led him to become a Senior Companion with Lutheran Social Services in 2001 at the age of 88. After moving to Kent to spend the winters with his daughter, he volunteered at the Food Bank at King of Kings Lutheran Church.
Vernon had a passion for music and started playing in a family band with his sister and brothers in 1934. None of the brothers and sisters ever took lessons, but taught themselves to play several instruments. In 1938, the band expanded to include Eunice and her brother, Donald Bornstedt. The Eklund family band played for over 60 years under the names of Dakota Canaries, Eklund Brothers Band, Blue Notes and the Rhythm Skyliners, playing for dances as far away as Montana. In 1990, Vernon joined a group of women from the community to form a small musical group, playing at the Senior Citizen Center, the Baptist home, the hospital and some local events. Vernon could be seen at many occasions, playing his "bones" in time with the music. His bones were 100-year old rib bones, given to him by his father.
He was a servant at heart, a man of faith, of great integrity, unselfish and had a deep love for his community, family and his friends. To those who knew him well, he was a champion.
His loving family includes: daughters, Carolyn Johnson, Pequot Lakes, MN; Jackie (Leon) Kinunen, Kent, WA, and son, Terry (Karyn) Eklund, Covington, WA; 8 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brother, Art (Arlene) Eklund, Bowbells, ND.
Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Kjerstine Eklund; wife, Eunice; brothers, Franklin, Walt, and Earl; sister, Eleanor Egger.
Vernon T. Eklund, 92, Renton, WA, formerly of Kenmare, ND, passed away January 31, 2006, in Renton, Washington, surrounded by members of his loving family.
Vernon was born in Kandiyohi Township of Burke County, ND, on March 30, 1913, the son of Frank and Kjerstine (Mickelsen) Eklund. Vernon left school after the 7th grade to help on the family farm after his father's heart attack.
On February 14, 1940, he married Eunice Bornstedt. From 1941 to 1945, Vernon and Eunice lived in California, where he worked for Columbia Construction doing a variety of war-related work. They returned to Kenmare in 1945, and purchased the Eklund Blacksmith Shop, where he served the city and surrounding farming community until he retired in 1981. Vernon's ornamental ironwork can be seen at the Johnson Field, Nazareth Lutheran Church, Little Butte Cemetery and many other locations. He also farmed in the Coteau area until his retirement in 1981. Eunice passed away on September 18, 1988.
During his years in Kenmare, he was very active in a variety of community organizations. In 1947, Vernon organized a Kenmare baseball team known as the Lakers and played catcher. He was a dedicated volunteer fireman, retiring in 1997, after 50 years of service. He served as Fire Chief for a period of time. He and his brother, Walt, built a fire engine from scratch using the chassis of a new 1946 Chevy. The truck still runs and is used in parades today. He served on the city council, church council, was a member of the Lion's club, president of the Senior Citizens Center, worked at the Food Bank and sang in the church choir. Vernon always had a heart for serving others and this led him to become a Senior Companion with Lutheran Social Services in 2001 at the age of 88. After moving to Kent to spend the winters with his daughter, he volunteered at the Food Bank at King of Kings Lutheran Church.
Vernon had a passion for music and started playing in a family band with his sister and brothers in 1934. None of the brothers and sisters ever took lessons, but taught themselves to play several instruments. In 1938, the band expanded to include Eunice and her brother, Donald Bornstedt. The Eklund family band played for over 60 years under the names of Dakota Canaries, Eklund Brothers Band, Blue Notes and the Rhythm Skyliners, playing for dances as far away as Montana. In 1990, Vernon joined a group of women from the community to form a small musical group, playing at the Senior Citizen Center, the Baptist home, the hospital and some local events. Vernon could be seen at many occasions, playing his "bones" in time with the music. His bones were 100-year old rib bones, given to him by his father.
He was a servant at heart, a man of faith, of great integrity, unselfish and had a deep love for his community, family and his friends. To those who knew him well, he was a champion.
His loving family includes: daughters, Carolyn Johnson, Pequot Lakes, MN; Jackie (Leon) Kinunen, Kent, WA, and son, Terry (Karyn) Eklund, Covington, WA; 8 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brother, Art (Arlene) Eklund, Bowbells, ND.
Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Kjerstine Eklund; wife, Eunice; brothers, Franklin, Walt, and Earl; sister, Eleanor Egger.
Vernon was born in Kandiyohi Township of Burke County, ND, on March 30, 1913, the son of Frank and Kjerstine (Mickelsen) Eklund. Vernon left school after the 7th grade to help on the family farm after his father's heart attack.
On February 14, 1940, he married Eunice Bornstedt. From 1941 to 1945, Vernon and Eunice lived in California, where he worked for Columbia Construction doing a variety of war-related work. They returned to Kenmare in 1945, and purchased the Eklund Blacksmith Shop, where he served the city and surrounding farming community until he retired in 1981. Vernon's ornamental ironwork can be seen at the Johnson Field, Nazareth Lutheran Church, Little Butte Cemetery and many other locations. He also farmed in the Coteau area until his retirement in 1981. Eunice passed away on September 18, 1988.
During his years in Kenmare, he was very active in a variety of community organizations. In 1947, Vernon organized a Kenmare baseball team known as the Lakers and played catcher. He was a dedicated volunteer fireman, retiring in 1997, after 50 years of service. He served as Fire Chief for a period of time. He and his brother, Walt, built a fire engine from scratch using the chassis of a new 1946 Chevy. The truck still runs and is used in parades today. He served on the city council, church council, was a member of the Lion's club, president of the Senior Citizens Center, worked at the Food Bank and sang in the church choir. Vernon always had a heart for serving others and this led him to become a Senior Companion with Lutheran Social Services in 2001 at the age of 88. After moving to Kent to spend the winters with his daughter, he volunteered at the Food Bank at King of Kings Lutheran Church.
Vernon had a passion for music and started playing in a family band with his sister and brothers in 1934. None of the brothers and sisters ever took lessons, but taught themselves to play several instruments. In 1938, the band expanded to include Eunice and her brother, Donald Bornstedt. The Eklund family band played for over 60 years under the names of Dakota Canaries, Eklund Brothers Band, Blue Notes and the Rhythm Skyliners, playing for dances as far away as Montana. In 1990, Vernon joined a group of women from the community to form a small musical group, playing at the Senior Citizen Center, the Baptist home, the hospital and some local events. Vernon could be seen at many occasions, playing his "bones" in time with the music. His bones were 100-year old rib bones, given to him by his father.
He was a servant at heart, a man of faith, of great integrity, unselfish and had a deep love for his community, family and his friends. To those who knew him well, he was a champion.
His loving family includes: daughters, Carolyn Johnson, Pequot Lakes, MN; Jackie (Leon) Kinunen, Kent, WA, and son, Terry (Karyn) Eklund, Covington, WA; 8 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brother, Art (Arlene) Eklund, Bowbells, ND.
Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Kjerstine Eklund; wife, Eunice; brothers, Franklin, Walt, and Earl; sister, Eleanor Egger.
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