Obituary of Maurice W. Ekeren

EKEREN MAURICE

Maurice W. ‘Morey’ Ekeren, age 93 of Yankton, SD passed away Wednesday, March 06, 2024 at his residence with family by his side.  Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Monday, March 11, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Yankton, SD with Rev. Jeff Otterman officiating.  Burial will be in the Garden of Memories, Yankton, SD with Military Graveside Rites by the Ernest-Bowyer VFW Post #791 and the United States Marine Corp.  Visitations will be 5 to 7 PM, Sunday, March 10, 2024 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, SD and then one hour prior to the service at the church.  Online condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com.  Live streaming of Morey’s service can be found at: https://my.gather.app/remember/morey-ekeren. 

Morey was born August 20, 1930 to Olaf and Lucille Warden Ekeren.  He was baptized and confirmed at Vangen Lutheran Church in Mission Hill, SD.  After completing grade school at Devoe Country school, he went to Mission Hill High School.  That freshman year was to be the last year of operations for Mission Hill High School.  From Mission Hill High School he went to Gayville High School and graduated in 1948.  After high school, he worked as a farm laborer for two years near Mission Hill, followed by two years working for Gurney Seed & Nursery in Yankton. 

On February 26, 1952, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps.  After two years of active duty and six years of reserve, he received his honorable discharge February 25, 1960.  He started working at the U.S. Post Office in Yankton April 1, 1957, retiring January 1, 1991.  He then drove a special education school bus for 14 years for the Yankton School District.

He married JoEtta Hauck June 7, 1960, at her family’s home near Utica, SD and together they raised three sons.  JoEtta passed away November 22, 1992.  On July 23, 1994, he married Kathleen Kunde Slowey.  Kathleen passed away August 30, 2016.

Morey’s hobbies included gardening, playing cards, sports, and drinking coffee with his friends.  He belonged to Trinity Lutheran Church, The American Legion, the Yankton Senior Center, and the U.S. Marine Corps League.

Survivors include son Glendon (Betty) Ekeren of Volin and their children Maria (Chad) Julius of Brookings, SD; Jesse (Megan) Ekeren of Sioux Falls; Ben (Kristen) Ekeren of Estes Park, CO; Charlotte (Brady) Stier of Duluth, MN; son George Ekeren of Yankton and his children Hanley Ekeren-Moening of Fort Collins, CO; Olivia Ekeren-Moening of Windsor, CO; son Dean (Kristine) Ekeren and their children Sebastian and Trynn all of Littleton, CO; and ten great-grandchildren.  Four stepsons, Steve (YaVonne) Slowey, Gregory (Linda) Slowey, Pat Slowey all of Yankton, and Tim (Dawn) Slowey of Hartford, SD, Sister Judy (Robert) Hackett of Yankton, Brothers Darrel (June) of Mission Hill, SD, Marvin (Marylin) Ekeren of Yankton, James (Donna) of Titusville, FL, and very special friend Bonnie (BJ) Johnson and her grandson Ean Johnson of Yankton.  Brother-in-law Floyd Hauck of Utica and sister-in-law Darlene Kunde of Yankton.   

Morey was proceeded in death by wives JoEtta and Kathleen, parents Olaf and Lucille, brothers Gene, Robert, Dennis, and Milford Ekeren, sisters Bonnie Lichliter and Sharon Ekeren, sisters-in-law Rose Ekeren, Janice Ekeren, Janet Ekeren, daughter-in-law Shannon Ekeren-Moening, and brother-in-law Murry Lichliter, and great-granddaughter Anna Julius.