Don Eagen, 81

Don Andrew Eagen was born February 26, 1925, on his grandparents' farm in Melville Township near Audubon, to George and Mary (Campbell) Eagen. After his mother's death in 1936, he made his home with Lewis and Esther Hansen in Polk Township near Shelby. He completed grade school at Danway School in Polk Township. He entered the U.S. Navy October 14, 1943, and served in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS California after she was refitted following near destruction at Pearl Harbor. He received an honorable discharge from the Navy April 20, 1946, and moved to Irwin.

Don married Ruby Mae Borkowski October 6, 1946, in Irwin. They lived in Audubon, Guthrie, Carroll, and Shelby Counties in Iowa. During that time he did road construction for Western Engineering Company of Harlan. Following his retirement, Don and Ruby moved to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and operated Ruby's Bait Shop for five years. Not ready to be fully retired, he worked part-time at Central Market in Detroit Lakes until the spring of 2006. He died November 18, 2006, at his home under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley at age 81.

Don was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Pinkston; two brothers, Dan (his twin), and Floyd; one sister, Versa. He is survived by his wife, Ruby of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota; four sons, Robert (Jane) of Moorhead, Minnesota; Dick (Lavern) of Tucson, Arizona; Joseph (Nancy) of Omaha, Nebraska; David (Lynn) of Hunter, North Dakota; four daughters, Mary (James) House of Miles, Donita Bowen of Wichita, Kansas, Jacklyn LaWare of Wichita, Kansas; Rose (Greg) Dryden of Rhinelander, Wisconsin; 28 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren and other relatives.

Funeral services were held November 18, 2006, at the David-Donehower Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.