William H. Eckes

William H. Eckes, 89 of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Monday, August 29, 2016 at the Eventide Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake. Funeral Services for William will be held on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Heartland Chapel, Devils Lake with Chaplain Rachel Johnson officiating. Visitation will be at the Chapel, Thursday beginning at 11:00 a.m. until service time. Burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery with Military Honors accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. William Hartley, son of Leo and Myrtle (Haugen) Eckes was born on December 20, 1926 at Derrick, North Dakota. He was reared there and educated in a local country school. He entered the United States Army on March 7, 1945 and served his country during the World War II in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. He was honorably discharged at Fort Lewis, Washington on November 30, 1946 with the rank of TEC 5. William was united in marriage to Doris Eckerdt on November 16, 1951 at Rolla, ND. They would live a beautiful life of love, laughter and tears and raise their family together through the years. He returned to North Dakota and in 1957 moved to Devils Lake. He was a truck driver and salesman for several companies in his early years, then for Bridgeman Creamery for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Throughout his life, William was a devoted son, husband, Dad and Grandpa. He was a loving caretaker to his mother, until her death and has cared lovingly for his wife for his whole life. William loved the outdoors and was an avid gardener and enjoyed time on the lake, fishing and boating with family and friends. He was deeply loved by his family and will be greatly missed by all those whose lives he touched. William is survived by his wife of over 64 years, Doris; children Dennis (Sue) Eckes, Devils Lake, Diane (Sam) Soper, Grand Forks, ND, Connie (Bruce) Kirk, Hemet, CA, Colleen (Tom Grinde) Eckes, Grand Forks, Jeanne (Greg) Schafer and Linda (Dave Johnson) Eckes, also of Devils Lake; ten grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; sisters Geneva Jarvis, Butte, MT, Doris Buckingham, Fargo, ND and Charlotte Sherve, Grand Forks and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Duane, Donald and Roland Eckes. William’s grandchildren, Christopher Eckes, Cody Eckes, Darren Eckes, Kelly Stewart and Sara Schafer will serve as Pallbearers. Music will be special recordings by Hank Williams Sr.