Ernst "Tike" Gunkel

Ernst “Tike” Gunkel, 83, of Page, ND died Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at Villa Maria Nursing Home in Fargo, ND. Ernst was born August 26, 1928 to Albert and Jane (Dennis) Gunkel at Page, ND. He graduated high school in Page and furthered his education at Virginia Military Institute (class of ’50 B), Mayville College and ND Agriculture College (now NDSU). He farmed in the Page-Hope areas all of his adult life. As a young boy he began fur-trapping and thus began his life-long enjoyment of nature and the outdoors. On February 2, 1968 he married Elva (Frost) Patterson in Page. During their 43 year marriage they lived, laughed, loved, played and travelled together. They thoroughly enjoyed each other, their family and all of their many friends. Ernst was a member of the Page United Methodist Church and the Fun and Friendship Club. His love of history led him to join several archaeological digs in ND and SD during their retirement. Ernst is survived by his step-son, Murray (Pearl) Patterson of Fargo; grandsons, Keith, Brian and Timothy Patterson all of Fargo; great-granddaughter, Piper Stam-Patterson of West Fargo, ND; sisters-in-law, Luella “Lu” Gunkel of Fargo, Viola (John) Schneider of Devils Lake, ND, and Ellen Christopher of Kearns, UT; nephews, L. David (Connie) Gunkel of Des Moines, IA and Karl (Eileen) Gunkel of Burlington, VT; and niece, Linda (John) Bryden of Washougal, WA. He was preceded in death by his wife Elva in April, 2011; his parents; one brother, A. William Gunkel; and one brother-in-law, Fred Christopher. The family wishes to express our sincerest gratitude to Hospice of the Red River Valley and Villa Maria Nursing Home for their loving care of “Pops” in good times and in hard times; especially Sean Ping for being not only his nurse, but his friend. Funeral Service: 11:00 AM Monday, November 7, 2011 at Page United Methodist Church, Page, ND. Visitation: 2-4 PM Sunday, November 6, 2011 with a prayer service at 4:00 PM at Page United Methodist Church, Page, ND and will resume one hour prior to the funeral service, at the church. Burial: Page Cemetery, Page, ND. (Lindsey-Carlson Funeral Home, Page, ND)