Eric Bakke

Eric Lars Bakke passed away on January 21st, 2024 after a six-month battle with brain cancer.

Eric was born on November 13th, 1954 in Grand Forks, ND to Arnold and Ida (Ring) Bakke. He was raised in Grand Forks and was active in sports and Boy Scouts, earning his Eagle Scout badge in 1969. He graduated from Red River High School in 1973.

Eric attended the University of North Dakota and earned an undergraduate degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Management in 1977. That same year, he married his high school sweetheart, Laurie McEnroe, on January 2nd. In 1980, he received his master’s degree from UND in biology. Upon graduation, Eric began working for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department in Fargo in a variety of roles. In 1984, he elected for a career change and began medical school at UND, graduating in 1988. Even through medical school, Eric continued to stay active in the field of wildlife conservation, He was especially proud of his work with the North Dakota Chapter of the Wildlife Society, where he was co-chair and partnered with Senator Stella Fritzell to introduce and pass legislation establishing the non-game tax check-off on state returns.

Throughout his time with the Game and Fish Department and medical school, Eric and Laurie welcomed three sons into the world: Andy, Tom, and Jeff. After medical school and residency stints in Grand Forks, Fargo, and Bismarck, Eric and his family moved back to Grand Forks permanently when he began work as a physician in family medicine. Eric had a prolific career in medicine, working for over 30 years as a doctor in Grand Forks. He retired in January of 2020 after serving thousands of patients and spending time as chairman of the Altru Family Medicine Department and sitting on the Altru Foundation Board.

Eric had many hobbies and interests, including hunting, fishing, photography, woodworking, gardening, birding, cooking, reading, and canoeing. He spent many hours in the backyard, at the lake, or in his woodshop, crafting furniture for his friends and family or tending to his garden. A favorite pastime he thoroughly enjoyed was getting picky eaters to try new foods. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family at Union Lake. He was an incredible husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, and doctor to all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Laurie of Grand Forks and their three sons: Andrew and Becca (Kadlec) Bakke and their children Claire, Luke, Audrey, and Isaac, all of Fargo, ND; Tom and Jonetta (Scotland) Bakke and their children Bergen, Conrad, and Graham, all of Bemidji, MN; Jeff and Becca (Perry) Bakke and their daughter Solveig, of Grand Forks, ND; sisters Bettie Walls and Tina Cowger of Grand Forks and a brother, Arne Bakke of Fairbanks, AK; a golden retriever, Georgie, as well as many nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arnold and Ida Bakke; his in-laws, George and Donna (Abel)  McEnroe; and an infant sister, Kirsten Bakke. 

A funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 AM on Friday, January 26th 2024 at United Lutheran Church, 324 Chestnut St, in Grand Forks, ND, with a visitation beginning at 9:30 AM. Arrangements by Amundson Funeral Home. An online guestbook is available at: https://www.amundsonfuneralhome.com/. 

Eric requested that donations be directed to the Grand Forks Foundation for Education, Altru Health Foundation, UND School of Medicine, UND Foundation (Wildlife-Game Management Endowment), or United Lutheran Church.