LeVerne “Verne” Eckman, 93

LeVerne “Verne” Albert Eckman, 93, of Brandon, died peacefully surrounded by family on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage in Luverne, Minn.
A celebration of Verne’s life will begin at 2 p.m. Friday, June 20, 2025, at the George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory in Sioux Falls. His family will be present to greet friends for visitation beginning at 1 p.m.
Verne was born Jan. 9, 1932, in Arnolds Park, Iowa, to Clarence Eckman and Grace (Gottsche) Eckman. He grew up and attended grade school and high school in Arnolds Park, graduating in 1951. Following high school, Verne enlisted in the United States Air Force where he was a Teletype Operator. He served overseas during the Korean War and received his Honorable Discharge in 1955, having attained the rank of staff sergeant.
After the military, Verne worked for Northwest Airlines for three years in Minneapolis, then moved to Sioux Falls and finally landed in Brandon. He worked for Western Airlines and then Delta Airlines for over 30 years, before retiring in 1994. Following retirement, Verne stayed busy working at the Brandon car wash and running his own small seafood distribution business. Always on the move, Verne explained he was “unable to just let the grass grow under his feet.”
Locally, he was known as the “Oyster King” of the tri-state area selling oysters for over 40 years, retiring from that adventure only this past January.
Verne enjoyed meeting many locals and sharing stories of past events and adventures he experienced growing up in the Lake Okoboji area. He enjoyed watching Vikings football. His favorite football memory was attending the “Minnesota Miracle” Vikings game in Minneapolis on Jan. 14, 2018. He also loved NASCAR, watching the Iowa Hawkeyes, especially Caitlin Clark, and enjoyed playing hours of miniature golf.
Verne traveled all over the U.S. including Hawaii and visited Japan, Greece, Paris, and London. He enjoyed going to the lakes area throughout the summers and loved spending time hosting and visiting with family and friends.
Grateful for having shared his life are three surviving children, Mark Eckman of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Sheryl (Jeff) Jacobsen of Corcoran, Minn., and Allison (Skylar) Hiebert of Vancouver, Wash.; eight living grandchildren, Joshua and Payton Eckman of Fayetteville, N.C., Tim (Lauren) Jacobsen of Plymouth, MNinn., Tyler Jacobsen of Hopkins, Minn., Emily (Rese) Wynn of Denver, Colo., Matthew Jacobsen of Corcoran, and Ezra and Sydney Hiebert, both of Vancouver.
Verne was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Grace; son, Steve Eckman; and two sisters, Betty Alexander and Doris Pettigrew. He has one surviving brother, Larry Eckman of Lake Park, Iowa.
Memorials may be donated in Verne’s name to the Luverne Area Community Foundation – the Sanford Cottage or online at luvacf.org.
For online condolences, visit georgeboom.com.