Emil Konnow Svenkerud went to his heavenly home on January 27, 2007, just ten days after his 90th birthday on January 17th.
Emil was born in Fargo, ND, to Knut and Barbara (Broto) Svenkerud, and grew up on farms outside of Kindred, ND, where he graduated from Kindred High School in 1936. During the 1940's, he lived in Ontario, California, where, during WWII, he worked for North American Aviation in Inglewood, CA, as an aircraft fabrication instructor and inspector. He married Deloris Thompson in Los Angeles, CA in 1942. He received an honorable discharge from the Army Air Corps in 1945. In 1949, he moved to Moorhead, MN where he worked several jobs, retiring as a letter carrier with the Moorhead Post Office in 1979. His wife Deloris died in 1985.
He was a longtime member of numerous organizations including the Hallinglag, the Kringen Lodge - Sons of Norway, and the American Legion. He was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Moorhead for over half a century. For the past three years, he enjoyed life at the Heatherwilde Assisted Living Center in Pflugerville, TX.
He was preceded in death by his wife; two brothers, Juel (Barbara) and Burton (Ruth); two grandchildren, Kristin Hakes-Spencer (Heath) and John (Bricelda). He is survived by a brother, Melroy (Jeannie) of Genoa, IL; three children, Sonja Hakes (Ladd) of Fort Washington, MD, Erik of Austin, TX, and Ernest (Barbara) of Park Rapids, MN; three grandchildren, Sarah Hakes, Nathan and Kristel; and one great-grandchild, John, Jr.
Visitation will be from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM on Saturday, February 3, 2007, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 610 13th St. N, Moorhead, with a celebration of his life at 10:30 AM. Burial will be alongside his wife at Moorhead Memorial Gardens, Moorhead. Memorials will be forwarded to Emil's favorite charities.