Harlan was born May 23, 1933 to Talford and Hilda (Sand) Eiken in Spring Grove, Minnesota. His mother passed away in childbirth when he was eight. He then lived with his grandparents, Henry and Clarinda Eiken. He graduated from the Mabel High School in 1952. He married Jean Ann Rasmussen on March 12, 1954. Harlan and Jean raised turkeys in Rochester, Minnesota and then moved to San Fernando Valley, California from 1960 to 1962 managing a turkey farm. They moved to Prosper, Minnesota in 1962 where Harlan was employed at the Prosper Truck Stop. In 1970 they moved to the Irish Ridge and started farming after buying the Wallace Eiken Farms. He farmed from 1970 to 2014, a majority of those years with his son, Tye. Farming came to an end with a stroke paralyzing him in December, 2014. Harlan spent the rest of his days in a wheel chair.
Harlan was an active member of the Mabel United Methodist Church. He loved NASCAR, especially Dale Earnhardt, NFL football, John Deere machinery, his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and his wife, Jean “Ma”. Harlan and Jean enjoyed spending part of their winters in Fountain Hills, Arizona where their daughters live. Harlan was a perfectionist, in the best way, and above all he had a kind heart.
Harlan passed away Sunday, January 27, 2019 at the Green Lea Manor in Mabel, Minnesota with his family by his side at the age of 85.
Harlan is survived by his wife Jean; three children Steve (Diane) of Prosper, Minnesota, Becky (Kelly) Dotzler of Fountain Hills, Arizona, and Stacy (Mark) Gridley of Fountain Hills, Arizona; daughter-in-law Marilynn Eiken of Mabel; eleven grandchildren Ben (Nicky), Amy (James), Morgan, Ryan (Rachel), Jordan (Ryan), Joshua, Dustin, Kiley, Zach, Sloan (Colin Kurk), and Slade; ten great grandchildren Ava, Ike, Mya, Kale, Hailee, and Blake, Parker, and Ryer , Kayden and Everly; a brother Paul (Sandy) Eiken; and five half-sisters and one half-brother.
Harlan was preceded in death by his son, Tye, and a brother, Gerry.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, February 1, 2019 at the Mabel United Methodist Church in Mabel with the Rev. Pamela Seebach officiating. Burial will be in the Mabel Public Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 – 7 PM Thursday, January 31 at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel and one hour prior to services at the church.
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