Carl Ekern

Carl Ekern, 90, of Fargo, ND, died Saturday, April 19, 2014 at Villa Maria, Fargo.

Carl Robert Ekern Jr. was born in Fargo on December 21, 1923 to Cora and Carl Ekern, Sr.
He graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1941 and entered North Dakota Sate University. In 1942 he enlisted in the Navy V-12 program and was sent to the University of Minnesota, where he received a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1944. Carl was then sent to Midshipman’s School at Columbia University in New York City where he was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy, after which, he was sent to North Carolina State University in 1945 to study diesel engineering. While there, he met his future wife, Evelyn Britt.

Carl served as an officer on the USS LSM210 in the South Pacific. He returned to the United States through the Panama Canal and was stationed in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where he married Evelyn Britt on April 2, 1946. Upon his discharge from the Navy, they returned to Fargo.
Carl re-entered North Dakota State University, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and ATO Fraternity, receiving his Civil Engineering degree in 1948. Carl was employed by an engineering firm in Minneapolis before returning to Fargo in the fall of 1949, where he was employed by Fargo Foundry (now known as Mid-America Steel). He retired from Mid-America Steel as Vice President in 1985.

Carl has served on the board of directors of Mid-America Steel, Fargo Chamber of Commerce, St. Luke’s Hospital (Chairman), Fargo Country Club, Northwestern Savings Bank, and was a trustee for North Dakota Ironworkers Pension Fund. He was a member of the East Gate Lodge, Scottish Rite, and was Potentate of El Zagal Temple in 1970. Carl was an avid golfer, having reached the finals of the North Dakota Senior Golf Tournament four times.

Carl is survived by his son, Carl Robert Ekern III; twin daughters, Linda Ekern, and Laura (Ken) Lougheed; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

The family requests memorials to Hospice of the Red River Valley.