Ernest (Ernie) Andrew Ekanger, age 84, died Friday, December 3, 2021 at Bel Rae Senior Living in Mounds View, MN.

Ernie was born on a farm in Lincoln County South Dakota on September 1, 1937 to Andrew and Emma (Husby) Ekanger. At the age of three the family moved to the Husby/Ekanger family farm near Hudson, SD. He attended elementary school at Elmwood District 61 Country School and high school at Augustana Academy in Canton, SD. Following high school graduation, he attended Lutheran Bible Institute (LBI) in Minneapolis, MN. He never completed his LBI education, as Spring Quarter would usually find him heading back to the farm in South Dakota for the planting season.

He met his wife Nancy (Hanson) Ekanger while attending LBI. Ernie and Nancy were married on September 10, 1960 at Chetek Lutheran Church, Chetek, WI. Ernie was in the U.S. Army for a short time and also served with the National Guard. They lived for a brief time in Sioux Falls, SD while he worked for Teslow Construction. In the early 1960's Ernie and Nancy took over the family farm where Ernie raised crops and livestock.

They brought up their two daughters Barb and Bev on the farm. Ernie could be very mischievous. He enjoyed telling jokes, teasing, and pulling harmless pranks. It was all done in good fun. You could count on enjoying a good laugh with him. He also cared for his wife Nancy for many years with the help of an awesome Home Health Care team as she battled Multiple Sclerosis. He always counted it as one of his greatest privileges to care for her.

He lived on the farm until December 2016 when he relocated to the Minneapolis/St Paul, MN area to be near his daughters. The last few years he resided at Bel Rae Senior Living in Mounds View, MN where he enjoyed watching his Andy Griffith DVD's, playing bingo, working on his word puzzles, and most of all time spent with his daughters.

His most treasured possession was his Bible, and he once said "it's the only book that can give direction, freedom, and salvation". At a young age he prayed with his parents to accept Jesus as his personal Savior. He enjoyed being involved with his church and the local faith community through teaching Sunday School, participating in Bible Studies, serving with the Gideons, listening to and supporting KNWC, helping out at the Gospel Mission, and even preaching a sermon or two. For many years he attended Romsdal Lutheran Church (Moe Parish) and later helped start Redeemer Free Lutheran Church.

Ernie is survived by his daughters Barb Ekanger and Bev Ekanger; his sister-in-law Joyce Ekanger; his nieces and nephews Gary Pederson, Ron Pederson, Dave (Gloria) Pederson, Duane (Jessica) Pederson, Warren (Gloria) Pederson, Dan Ekanger, Linda (Brad) Stephens, Dave Ekanger, Darrel Jacobson, Mandie Jacobson, and their families; along with extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Nancy (Hanson) Ekanger; his parents Andrew and Emma (Husby) Ekanger; his sister Esther Pederson and her husband Art; his brother Charles Ekanger; his sister Bertha Jacobson and her husband James; his nephew Marvin Pederson; his nephew Gordon Jacobson; his mother and father-in-law Carl and Agnes (Anderson) Hanson.

Visitation will be on Thursday, December 9, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Redeemer Free Lutheran Church in Canton. A Celebration of Life will be on Friday, December 10, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. at Redeemer Free Lutheran Church in Canton with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Alcester.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to The Gideons International, KNWC – Life 96.5, or Redeemer Free Lutheran Church.