Jean Ekern, 91, died Monday, September 19, 2016 at her home in Cottage Grove, MN surrounded by her devoted and beloved family. She avidly sought out relatives and attended many Ekern-Eng family reunions.

Jean Ekern was born Shirley Jean Sanders on Feb. 27, 1925 to Edwin and Edith Swenson Sanders. Jean was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith by Lutheran ministers and had a lifelong interest in theology. She was the eldest of three children on the farm her father had homesteaded at Rawson, ND. She earned a B.A. at Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. She also graduated from Fairview Hospital School of Nursing, Minneapolis, MN. John Ekern and Jean Sanders were married on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1948. They settled onto a farm north of Flandreau and were members of Our Savior's Lutheran Church. John's father owned M.I. Ekern Hardware in Flandreau. They were active in the Masonic Lodge and the Eastern Star. She kept her membership 50 years. From 1962-1997 they offered community entertainment through bowling and roller skating in Morris, MN. Jean loved to explore with her family and friends. She traveled to many state and national parks, 28 foreign countries and all 50 states. Jean was a Registered Nurse until she was 85. She was Administrator at the Flandreau Hospital in 1959 during expansion to a 30 bed hospital. She served in many capacities in Morris, Graceville, and Willmar, MN. After retiring from paid nursing at 72 years old, Jean was a parish nurse for several years. Jean moved from her house in Morris to an independent living apartment in December, 2008 to be near her daughters and grandchildren. This Labor Day Weekend, Jean fulfilled plans made 2 years ago and joined 15 relatives in traveling to Alexander, ND where she and her family were honored at Old Settlers Day and she led the parade. She revisited her childhood home, saw the oil wells, and toured Roosevelt National Park.

She is preceded in death by four children by miscarriage, her husband John, and their son Erik; her parents, her brother and sister-in-law Roger and Betty Sanders, Rawson, ND; and brother-in-law Douglas Rasmusson, Hancock, MN. Jean is survived by three daughters and their husbands in Minnesota, Joan and Steven Axdal, Cottage Grove; Julianne and John Degenhardt, Woodbury; and Jenifer and Jim Watters, Lake Elmo, two grandchildren, Joey and Matthew Axdal, Cottage Grove, and her sister, Clara Louise Rasmusson, Hancock. Among lifelong friends she gained in Flandreau were Jane Larson, Spokane, WA and Mardella Cook, Hartley, IA.

A Memorial Service for Jean Ekern will be held on Saturday, October 15 at 12:30 at All Saints Lutheran Church, 8100 Hadley Ave S., Cottage Grove MN. Visitation begins at 10:30 am. Interment will be at the family cemetery plot in Union Cemetery, Flandreau, SD at 12:00 Noon Sunday, October 16, 2016.

Charitable donations may be made to Operation Bootstrap Africa www.bootstrapafrica.org for the ALMC School of Nursing in Tanzania. Cards may be sent to the Family of Jean Ekern, c/o 6719 Ideal Ave S., Cottage Grove MN 55016.