52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Ancestor # 3: Joseph Oliver Eken

As announced by Amy Johnson Crow in No Story Too Small, there is a 2015 edition of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. I may not make 52 but I am going to post whenever time permits to share what I have learned with my family as suggested by Michael J. Leclerc in his blog. In this blog entry, I am sharing information about my grandfather. 

Joseph Oliver EKEN was born on Jan 13, 1894 at Lake Sinai, Brookings County, SD. He had one older brother, Ole Christian Eken, and two older sisters, Clara M. and Selma Eken. Another brother, Peter O. Eken, died as an infant.

He appeared on the census of Jun 8, 1900 in the household of his father, Ole Olson EKEN at Lake Sinai, Brookings, SD. His mother, Johanne Olsdatter Froisland Eken, had passed away the year before. His father passed away in 1902.

Joseph appeared on the census of May 2, 1910 as an adopted son of Sivert and Mattie Haffdahl at Lake Sinai, Brookings, SD. His older sister, Selma, was also living with them as an  adopted daughter.

Joseph was a Corporal in WWI serving in the 341st Field Artillery, 89th Division, Battery D which returned to the United States on May 24, 1919. His 1917 WWI draft card describes him as tall, medium build with brown eyes and dark brown hair.

Joseph appeared on the census of January 3, 1920 as the head of household at Lake Sinai, Brookings, SD. 

Joseph Oliver Eken married Julia Emelia MOE,  daughter of John Johnson MOE and Marie NELSON, on Mar 30, 1921 at Arlington, Kingsbury, SD. They became the parents of six children: 5 daughters and one son.

Joseph and Julia Eken appeared on the census of Apr 23, 1930 at Sinai, Brookings, SD. 

Joseph was the coach of the 1935 Junior Legion’s baseball team in Sinai, South Dakota. He is pictured with the team in the History of the Sinai Community, Sinai, South Dakota 1879 - 1979. The same book recounts that he was Commander of the Sinai American Legion in 1937.

Sometime between 1937 and 1940, the Eken family moved to Brookings, Brookings County, SD. Joseph and Julia appeared on the census of Apr 16, Joseph retired from the South Dakota Highway Department on December 31, 1961 after 24 years.

Joseph died from colon cancer on Jun 9, 1963 at Brookings, Brookings, SD at age 69. He was buried on Jun 11, 1963 at Brookings Lutheran Cemetery, Brookings, Brookings, SD, USA.