Curtis E. Brekke

Curtis E. Brekke, 80, of Devils Lake and formerly of Lisbon, ND, passed away on Thursday, August 31, 2006 in Prior Lake, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 5, 2006 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Devils Lake, ND. Father Chad Wilhelm will celebrate the mass and burial will be in the family plot in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756 of the Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars. Visitation will be Monday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home. Serving as Pallbearers for Curtis will be Chaun Keating, Christopher Keating, Mark Otterson, Kenny Thompson, Rick LaFleur and Larry Anderson. Honorary Pallbearers will be Roger Brekke, Jerome Brekke, Dean Brekke, Durwood Brekke, Kelly Brekke, Ole Brekke and Cliff Axtman. Music will be provided by Donovan Foughty, Soloist and JoDee Lagein, Organist Curt Brekke was born January 21, 1926 in Fergus Falls, MN, the son of Clarence and Evalyn (Ottum) Brekke. The family farmed in rural Sargent County, ND until 1938 when they moved to Lisbon. Curt graduated from Lisbon High School in 1943. He attended Valley City State Teachers College under the V-12 OCS Program. He then transferred to the US Navy where he served as a tail gunner on a torpedo bomber during World War II. While in the Navy, he was stationed in Boston, MA where he met and married Geraldine Ann Hughes on July 9, 1945 in Quincy, MA. After the war, Curt attended Bentley College in Boston. The family returned to Lisbon after his father’s death in 1949, where Curt worked for several years as the accountant for Ranes Motors. In 1960, he moved his wife and 4 children to Grand Forks where he studied accounting at UND. In 1962, he accepted a position as controller with Myers-Saunders in Burbank, CA. But, Curt’s heart was still in North Dakota. He contacted his old professor, Tom Clifford, who told him of an accounting practice in Devils Lake that was looking for a partner. The family moved to Devils Lake in 1963 where Curt started his public accounting practice. His practice grew to have branch offices in Cando, Langdon, and Tolna, ND. Curt served as President of the North Dakota Public Accountants Society for 4 years. He was elected to the National Society of Public Accountants (NSPA) Board of Governors for 8 years; 3 years as vice president and was elected President of the NSPA in 1980. He also served on the Internal Revenue Service Commission’s Advisory Committee in 1980 in Washington, DC. Curt was also very active in the Lake Region community. He was a member of the Ramsey County Water Resources District, serving over 30 years as Secretary/Treasurer. He was a Co-founder and Co-chairman of the Lake Preservation Coalition to stabilize Devils Lake. He served on the North Dakota SWC Special Committee on Devils Lake Basin. Elected to the Devils Lake Park Commission, he served as President. Curt was an active member on the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Council for 6 years, as well as serving on the Bishop’s Council in Fargo for 8 years. Curt was also an active member of the: VFW, Rotary Club, Kem Shrine, Ducks Unlimited, Knights of Columbus, Sons of Norway, and the Elks Lodge. Curt retired and sold his practice in 1996, but he didn’t slow down. He and Gerry traveled extensively, enjoying several trips to Norway and Ireland, as well as around the US, visiting family and friends. In 1998, Curt was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives. He served from 1999 to 2003. As GOP Representative from District 15, he was a member of the Judiciary and Natural Resources Committees, always working to help Devils Lake and the Lake Region. Curt was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved nothing better than hunting and fishing with his children, grandchildren and friends. His wife, Gerry, passed away in 2003. Also preceding him in death were his parents and his only sister, Lucy (Brekke) Otterson. Curt is survived by his children: Curt (Karla) Brekke, Jr., Prior Lake, MN; Robert (Lori) Brekke, Littleton, Co; Gail Brekke (Jim Vlock), Woodbridge, CT; and Pam Brekke, Emerado, ND. He is also survived by 4 grandchildren; Chaun Keating, Chris Keating, Sarah Brekke and Kelly Brekke and 2 great grandchildren. The family prefers memorials be made in Curt’s name to Alzheimer’s Association – Minnesota-North Dakota or to Lake Region State College. Friends may sign the online register book at www.gilbertsonfuneralhome.com