Edwin Duane "Ed" Morken, of Genesee, Idaho, died Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, at Bishop Place Senior Living in Pullman. He was 85.
Ed was born to Edwin A. and Cletus Gustafson Morken on Oct. 6, 1931, in Spokane, Wash. The family moved to the Genesee farm in 1934.
Ed attended all 12 grades in the Genesee school system, graduating from Genesee High School in 1949. His interests in traveling and the lure of the sea and the coastal area led him to enroll as a student at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash., graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and business administration. Since the Korean War was in progress, he volunteered for active duty with the U.S. Navy immediately after graduating from college.
Ed was commissioned ensign, USNR-R, in 1954 and assigned as a line officer aboard the USS Merapi operating in the mid-Atlantic and Asian area, including an 18-month duty tour in the 1956 Bikini Atoll atomic tests. After six years of active duty, Ed requested reserve duty and joined an intelligence unit in Seattle and Portland, Ore., until moving to Genesee, where he was promoted to lieutenant commander and assumed command of the Lewiston/Clarkston Training Facility in 1964. Ed was assigned as commandant's representative, 13th Naval District for the Palouse Empire Area. Farming became more time consuming with the retirement of his dad, E.A. Morken, so Ed requested retired reserve status from his 14 years of enjoyable adventures with the Navy.
In 1958, while stationed in Seattle, he met Betty Treu of Kansas who was working as a United Airlines flight attendant, and they were married in Seattle on Jan. 11, 1959. Ed and Betty continued to live in Seattle after Ed's release from active duty from the Navy and his employment with General America Corporation (now Safeco).
In 1964, Betty and Ed moved to Genesee to assist in the Morken farm operation. Ed was active in wheat, pea and lentil boards, and was a member of the Latah County Republican Party. In August 1995, he was appointed to the Idaho State Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee. Ed continued farming after the death of his parents until his retirement in 2001.
His interests were many outdoor activities, such as hunting, Priest Lake fishing and water skiing. He and Betty loved to travel, especially cruising in distant places - around Cape Horn, Russia, China and the Baltic. He was a lifelong football fan of the Washington State University Cougars and was active in the American Legion post.
Ed is survived by his wife of 58 years, Betty, at their Genesee country home; daughter, Nanette, and her husband, Patrick Padero, of Buckley, Wash.; and his beautiful granddaughters, Sydney and Sophia. Ed also leaves his siblings: Mary Stout, of Genesee; Donald (Sharon) Morken, of Seattle; and Betsy (David) Ritchie, of Woodinville, Wash.
The Morken family would like to express their sincere appreciation to all of the wonderful staff at Bishop Place for taking such great care of Ed during his final days.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, at the Genesee Valley Lutheran Cemetery. Pastor Dana Helsing of the Genesee Lutheran Church will officiate and military honors will be provided by Bielenberg-Schoolar Post No. 58 American Legion. A reception will follow in the Valley Lutheran Church fellowship hall.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Genesee High School Foundation.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Short's Funeral Chapel, Moscow, and online condolences may be made at www.shortsfuneralchapel.com.
