Muriel M. Ekeland passed away July 26, 2010, after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral Services are scheduled for 11:00 am, Thursday, July 29, 2010, at the First Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls. Visitation will be Wednesday, July 28, starting at 4:00 pm, with the family present from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm, at Miller Funeral Home, 507 South Main, Sioux Falls.
Muriel Christensen was born January 27, 1924 to Carl F. and Mary Christensen on a farm near Hurley, SD. She attended District #38, Hurley grade and High Schools, graduating in 1942. Muriel taught in District #32, Hurley Consolidated #2, Parker, and then graduated from Sioux Falls College in 1950.
Muriel taught in Sioux Falls Jefferson School, Rapid City Roosevelt Grade School and Laura Wilder Grade School back in Sioux Falls. She retired in 1989 after teaching for more than 31 years.
She was a member of SDEA, NEA, IRA, South Dakota Retired Teachers Association. Muriel was always interested in helping students achieve, and even wrote two books to help other teachers.
Muriel leaves her husband of 60 years, Norman C. Ekeland, one son Robert (Kari) of Greenville, SC, one daughter Deborah (Ron) Levine and granddaughter Rachel, all of Cedar Rapids, IA. Also left to cherish her memory are her two sisters, Geraldine Petersen and Elaine Haines, and one brother Dale Christensen, all of Hurley, SD.