Alrik H. Eksten

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Alrik Hope Eksten passed away Feb. 28, 2009, at the VA Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born July 17, 1939, in Baxter, Minn., to Alrik and Nellie (Edeburn) Eksten. He grew up in Baxter and graduated from Washington High School in Brainerd, Minn. He worked as a bricklayer and later joined the Navy as an aviation electrician. He served in the Vietnam War. While in the Navy he was awarded Fifth Good Conduct Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. He retired from the Navy after 26 years as a master chief.

He is survived by four children, Brick (Jane), Hope, Anjie (Dorothy) and Maya; two grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and cousins; brother, Oscar (Donna) Eksten, of Merrifield; sister, Lorraine Hinton, of Baxter.

He is buried in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at Camp Ripley, Minn.

Local arrangements were with the Halvorson-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Brainerd.