Harlan Ekeberg

Harlan Ekeberg, age 72, of Fosston, MN, passed away on Saturday, June 16th at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital in The Woodlands, TX. Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 25th at 2:00 PM at Kingo Lutheran Church in Fosston with Rev. John Dalen officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 24th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM with a prayer service at 5:00 PM at the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Fosston, and there will also be reviewal for one hour before the funeral at the church on Monday. Interment will be at Kingo Lutheran Cemetery in Fosston, and the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston is in charge of the arrangements. Messages of condolence may be sent at www.carlinhoialmen.com.Harlan Earl Gene Ekeberg was born on December 10th, 1939, in Fosston, Minnesota to Clarence and Bernice (Olson) Ekeberg. He grew up on a farm just north of town and graduated from Fosston High School in 1957. He enlisted in the army shortly after high school and was stationed in Germany. Throughout his military service he enjoyed seeing various locations around Europe and made many lifetime memories. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he worked in California for a short time and then joined the Coast Guard and was stationed at Cape May, New Jersey. He married Delayne (Harms) Ekeberg in 1963 and relocated to Menominee, Michigan. Their first child, Kelly Rae (Shank) Ekeberg was born on April 13th, 1964. Upon conclusion of his Coast Guard duties, they moved to Minneapolis, where he worked as a truck driver. Their second child, Brian Gene Ekeberg, was born on January 27th, 1968. They moved to Moorhead, Minnesota in 1972, where he went to work for E.W. Wylie as an over-the-road truck driver, and was eventually promoted to Director of Operations. In 1977, they moved to Hawley, Minnesota. In 1983, Harlan and family moved to Fosston, Minnesota where he held a variety of positions in the trucking industry. In Harlan's retirement, he enjoyed seasonal work with Lenes Sand and Gravel.Harlan loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing when he could find the time. He had a "green thumb" and was very fond of working in his vegetable garden, tending flowers and keeping the yard looking sharp. Harlan also loved visiting his children and grandchildren in The Woodlands, Texas, as well as summertime, month-long visits by his grandchildren, daughter, and son-in-law. Harlan loved people, and could strike up a conversation with a total stranger like he'd known them for years. We all loved his infectious laugh and playful sense of humor. And, on occasion, his close friends and family would fall victim to his innocent practical jokes.Harlan is survived by his wife, Delayne (Harms) Ekeberg of Fosston; daughter, Kelly (Scott) Shank; son, Brian (Tabitha) Ekeberg; granddaughters, Corinne and Carly Shank, all of The Woodlands, Texas. In addition, he is survived by sisters, Janice (Paul) Tuominen of Hibbing, MN; Colleen Simonson of Coleraine, MN; and Diane Ekeberg of Crookston, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Bernice, sister Beverly, and his two brothers, Dennis and Alan Dale Ekeberg.Harlan passed away on Saturday, June 16th at Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands, Texas, at the age of 72.