Dorothy M. Ekern, 97, of Flandreau, died Friday, May 4, 2018, at Riverview Healthcare Community.
Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Redeemer Free Lutheran Church in Canton. Burial is in Dalesburg Lutheran Cemetery in rural Vermillion. Visitation is 5 – 7 p.m. Monday with a 7 p.m. prayer service at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Flandreau.
Dorothy was born July 7, 1920, at Wakonda, to Thomas and Amy (Lunning) Knutson, Sr. She received her education at Frog Creek Country School in Turner County. Dorothy married LaVerne W. Frick on Aug. 30, 1941, at Centerville, in a triple wedding with her two sisters. They had five children: Laurell Delayne (deceased 1946 at age 3), Donna Rae, Warren Lee, Kathy Ann and Lanny Doyle. They farmed near Beresford, Hudson and finally moved to the Canton area in 1963. They farmed until her husband’s death June 25, 1982.
Dorothy moved into Canton in 1988. She married Dean L. Ekern of Flandreau March 25, 1989, in Canton and they resided in Flandreau. Dorothy became a resident at Riverview Manor April 25, 2012, until her death. At age 13 Dorothy gave her heart to the Lord, which was her witness to her children and many others.
Dorothy was a charter member of Redeemer Free Lutheran Church in Canton. She loved to participate in Christian fellowship in the churches that she attended and the Christian Women’s Connection of Flandreau. Dorothy enjoyed singing songs of faith and used her voice to honor her Lord. She was very active in her community and in her children’s activities.
Dorothy is survived by her husband, Dean; children, Donna (Fred) Smith of Flandreau, Warren (Judy) Frick of Alpharetta, Georgia, Kathy (David) Holter of Canton, and Lanny (Kathy Marie) Frick of Rogers, Arkansas; nine grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband LaVerne, son Laurell, mother-in-law Nannie Carlson Frick, brothers, Glenn, Elwin, Clare, Thomas, Jr., Sidney and sisters Juna Knutson and Avonelle Hinseth.
For online condolences, visit www.skrochfc.com.
