Dennis Eken

Service times to appear soon. Dennis Eken, 71, of Dent, MN (formerly of Grand Forks), died at his home Sunday, November 7, 2010, surrounded by family after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Dennis Lloyd Eken was born March 23, 1939 to Knut and Clara (Smestad) Eken in rural Hatton, ND. He grew up in the Hatton and Mayville area and graduated high school in Mayville, ND. He married Margaret Pike in April 1961 in Fitchburg, MA while stationed in service of our country at Ft. Devens, MA. They lived in Fitchburg for a short time, and then moved to Mayville, ND. They had three children. The family moved to Grand Forks, ND in 1966. Dennis worked for Coca Cola Bottling until he retired in 1996. He married Jean Mace in December 1992. They retired to a home on West McDonald Lake near Dent. They also spent many enjoyable winters in Mesa, AZ. Denny's hobbies included golf and playing cards. He loved time at the lake with his children and grandchildren playing bean bag toss, wiffle ball, croquet, etc. He had a great interest in sports and greatly enjoyed the opportunity he had to play in an adult softball league with his sons when they were of college age. He was an avid MN Twins fan Dennis is survived by his wife, Jean of Dent; 3 children, James (Elizabeth) Eken of Cedar Rapids, IA, Kathy (Bill) Larson of Sauk Centre, MN, and John (Lori) Eken of Grand Forks, ND; 2 step-children, Kerry and Cory Keller; grandchildren, Joe, Mike, Jake, Leah, Brett, Garett, and Abby; step-grandchildren, Katie, Duncan, and Connor; brother, Kenneth (Lorraine) Eken of Mayville; 2 sisters, Evelyn Anderson of Fargo and Caroline Tunseth of Mayville; 2 sisters-in-law, Clarice Eken and Arilda Eken; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; 3 brothers, Bobby, Arvid and Stanley Eken; 2 brothers-in-law, Milton Anderson and Les Tunseth; and 2 sisters-in-law Jan and Carol Eken