Lyle Wicken

To watch a recording of the service, please use the link: https://youtu.be/S5bQlOf6aLk 

Lyle Hubert Wicken, 88 of Grand Forks, North Dakota, passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Valley Senior Living on 42nd St.

Lyle, the son of Arnt and Margaret (Amble) Wiken, was born February 18, 1936 in Grand Forks, ND, where he grew up and attended school. He graduated from Central High School in 1953.  He was baptized and confirmed at Sharon Lutheran Church.   After High School he attended the University of North Dakota and then enlisted in the United States Air Force where he was stationed in Greenland and Biloxi Mississippi.   This is where he gained the knowledge to be an Air Traffic Controller, where he would go on to spend a career in aviation. Lyle married Marion Engelmann on March 5, 1959, in Grand Forks. They had two children, a son, Greg and a daughter, Lori.  Lyle started working at North Central Airlines which later became Northwest Airlines.  Following his employment with the airlines, Lyle went on to work for the Federal Aviation Administration in Grand Forks.  In 1970 the family moved to Minot, North Dakota where Lyle became the facility chief for the Minot Flight Service Station.  In 1977, the family moved back to Grand Forks where Lyle became the facility chief for the Grand Forks Flight service station.  This is where he was able to retire from aviation at the age of 53.   Lyle’s next adventure was going into real estate.  He started Buyers Realty.  It was the first and only real estate company to work and represent buyers only. Now the term buyer agent is commonplace.  

Lyle was active in Voice of Democracy, Veterans of Foreign Wars and National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.

Whether living in Minot or Grand Forks, Lyle loved taking his family camping and fishing every weekend. He especially liked spending time with his family at their cabin on Maple Lake.

Lyle enjoyed a very active and full life.  He will be deeply missed by his loving family and many cherished friends.

Lyle is survived by his wife of 65 Years, Marion of Grand Forks, North Dakota; son Gregory (Tracy) Wicken of Grand Forks, North Dakota;  grandchildren, Grant (Sarah) Wicken of Bismarck, North Dakota,  Tyler (BreAnna) Wicken of Grand Forks, North Dakota; Paige (Matt) Boorman of Proctor, Minnesota;  Tony (Emilie) Zubriski, of Carpio, North Dakota;  great- grandchildren, Christian, Cooper, Deklyn and Drayton of Bismarck, North Dakota; Wesson, Wyatt and Rachel of Grand Forks, North Dakota: Lily and Ethan of Proctor, Minnesota.  Lyle is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, Arnt and Margaret (Amble) Wiken, sisters, Gloria (Newell) Anderson, Marion (Howard) Hove and his daughter Lori (Will) Awe.

Funeral Service will be Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Amundson Funeral Home, 2975 S. 42^nd St., Grand Forks, with visitation for one hour prior to the service in the funeral home.   Interment will follow in Memorial Park North Cemetery, Grand Forks.