Thompson-Larson Funeral Home Obituary 2007

Arthur Wilhelm Ekstrom (96) was born at the homesteaded family farm in Kandiyohi Township, of Burke County, ND, to Per and Alma (Erickson) Ekstrom on Nov 12, 1910. He attended Kandiyohi Country School and at the time of his death was the oldest alumnus of the school. He lived at home and helped work the family farm until his late twenties, when he rented land near Niobe to start his own farming career. Prior to this, he spent a short period of time working at a logging camp at Colville, Washington. During many years of farming, he served as a summer cropland surveyor.

He married Mabel Timmel of Stanley on September 21, 1941. They made their home in Niobe until 1944 before buying their own farm in Bowbells Township. They lived there until their move to Kenmare in 1991. From 1975 to 1990, they wintered in the Apache Junction/Mesa, Arizona area enjoying the company of many friends. The Kenmare Community Hospital Skilled Care Center served as Art's home for the final 3½ years of his life.

Arthur was a long-time active member of the Niobe Baptist Church and later of the First Baptist Church in Kenmare. He served in many capacities through the years: trustee, deacon, Sunday School Superintendent and taught Sunday school into his 80's. For a few years, while his health permitted, he attended the Kenmare Church of the Nazarene. He also actively served on the Bowbells Township Board and helped his farming neighbors.

Arthur was a life- long waterfowl hunter and played a significant part in introducing his family to the enjoyment of hunting and fishing. He enjoyed traveling, doing cross word puzzles, excelled at horseshoe, enjoyed playing pool, and participated for many years in bowling leagues. He loved to sing and used his beautiful tenor voice in duets, trios and quartets at church services or to bring encouragement and joy to others at the nursing home up to his final days. His favorite song was "How Great Thou Art".

Art was known by many who knew him well, including the nursing home staff, as a man with a twinkle in his eye, a sense of humor and one who knew how to live life to its fullest. Honest, humble, steadfast, sociable and spontaneous are words that describe him well. The Ekstrom home was one of warmth and welcome to the many visitors. Art's love for his God, wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and others was shown more in actions than in words. He was a "faithful servant who lived by his convictions".

He is survived by his wife, Mabel; Kenmare; sister, Aurene (Arthur) Johnson, Kenmare; his three children, sons, Merlin (Ireta), Farmington Hills, MI, and Richard (Mary), Vermillion, SD, and daughter, Joyce (Ronald) Swanson, Shawnee, KS; seven grandchildren, Lee (Heather) Ekstrom, Tamela Ekstrom, Nathan Swanson, Daniel (Allison) Swanson, Michael Swanson, Rachel (Scott) Hillestad, and Samuel H. Ekstrom; eight great grandchildren; and 35 beloved nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Arvid (Lynette Lesmann); seven sisters, Agnes (Frank) Lagorin, Alice (Edward) Rodin, Anna (Royal) Martin, Alma (Joseph) Rodin, Alida (Howard) Savage, Adrie (John) Smith, and Amy (Chester) Nelson; and 13 nieces and nephews.

The family extends special thanks to the staff at the Trinity Kenmare Community Hospital for their outstanding support and loving care during his residency there.

Funeral: Saturday, March 24, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. at Kenmare Church of the Nazarene, Kenmare.