On March 18, 1923, David and Josephine (Evans) Eklund welcomed Donald Jerome Eklund, one of 13 children. The seven girls outnumbered the six boys; Verna, Alice, Eleanor, Doris, Gust, Helen, Bernice, Donald, Ruth, Lester, Merlyn, Vernon and Jerry. Donald attended school in Fertile, MN, Stanley, ND, and Lockhart, MN, until the age of 15 when he entered the workforce. From March of 1946 until September of 1947, CPL-MP Donald Eklund served as a prison guard in the United States Army. He was stationed in Colorado, Georgia and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In a year's time, Don took care of 700-800 prisoners, leaving him with many colorful stories. Donald was honorably discharged and returned to Norman County. He loved to dance and swept Doris Hove right off her feet at a dance. They were united in marriage on January 29, 1950, at the Bethlehem Parsonage in Ulen. The couple farmed in Fossum Township, near Faith, MN, for three years before moving to the farm southwest of Ulen. Donald was known to have the tallest barn in Clay County! During the summer, hay bales were stacked 14 high and straw bales as high as you could throw them. His barn also housed 39 award winning cows, earning him the DHIA Award (Dairy Herd Improvement Association) for three years for the herd with the highest butter fat. Don faithfully tended to his cows for milking sessions at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. for many years. After retiring from farming in 1979, Doris and Donald moved into town and continued to tend a large garden and help area farmers. In the summer of 2008, Don sold the house in town and moved into the Northern Lights Assisted Living. His bride of 59 years, passed away in 2009, and Don continued to keep her memory alive by carrying her graduation picture in his wallet. In June of 2014, Donald moved into the Viking Manor Nursing Home, where he would make his home until his death on Monday, March 27, 2017, having lived to the age of 94. Over the years, Donald enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards and bingo. He loved dancing and spending time with family, especially his grandchildren. Don was a great storyteller and jokester and even as his body began to fail his mind remained clear and sharp. He knew each and every one of his grandchildren, all 46 of them! Once, he even surprised a few of the grandkids by popping a wheelie on his lawnmower. He loved many critters, except squirrels, but had a soft spot in his heart for all the farm dogs over the years: Lady, King, Mooch, Penny and Fonzie. Donald treasured friends and family stopping by for a cup of coffee and a visit. You never left the house feeling hungry. His famed scalloped potatoes served in the large yellow bowl have filled many a belly. Keeping true to the theme of "high butter fat" Donald always made sure that during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays the Lefse was spread with plenty of butter. Donald is survived by his seven children: Betty (Nolan) Paurus, Wolf Lake, MN, Arloween Eklund, Ulen, Donald "Ike" (Diane Zurn) Eklund, Detroit Lakes, MN, Conard (Sheila) Eklund, Dent, MN, Kathryn (Mark) Syverson, Ulen, Dean (JoLeen) Eklund, Detroit Lakes, and Shila (Charles) Hilde, Felton, MN; 17 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandsons; three sisters-in-law: Clareen Eklund, Brainerd, MN, Shirley Eklund, Blaine, MN, and Lorraine Eklund, Twin Valley, MN, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; granddaughter, Nicole, and siblings.