For those who are in their time of Bereavement…We wish to Extend our sincere Sympathy.

Kramer Family Funeral Home is proud to offer this new and convenient feature of online obituaries. We understand it is often hard to attend services in-person. For this reason, we have provided an e-mail condolences service on-line. If you would like to share your thoughts and memories, we will deliver your message to the family. Also, we do have helpful information on Grief Recovery and support information which is located in Grief Recovery section.

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Alvin "Bud" Ekstrand
Visitation: Monday, September 22, 2008 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM Trinity Lutheran Church Welcome, M. Service: Monday, September 22, 2008 11:00 AM Trinity Lutheran Church Welcome, Mn Special Services: Pastor Eugene Anderson will be officiating. Military Honors by the Welcome American Legion Post #553 and Honor Guard by the Welcome Fire Department.	VIEW/SEND CONDOLENCES
Alvin August Ekstrand was born February 13, 1910 to Peter and Elizabeth (Peterson) Ekstrand in Sherburn, Minnesota. He received his schooling in Fox Lake Township. Bud entered the United States Army in 1942. After training in Little Rock, Arkansas, he served with the 25th Infantry Division Medical Corps as a Staff Sgt in Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Russell Islands, Vella La Vella and Luzon from July 1942 until October of 1945. On December 15, 1951 he was united in marriage to Edanelle “Eddie” Saunders at Davenport, Iowa. After their marriage he was employed at International Harveste r Company in Moline, Illinois until moving to Gillette Grove, Iowa where he was engaged in farming. In September of 1954, he moved to Welcome where he was employed as Chief of Police and City Maintenance. Bud retired in 1976 and then was part-time grader operator for Fox Lake Township until 1992. Bud was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Welcome since 1961. He was a 53 year member of the Welcome American Legion Post #553 and a member of the Welcome Fire Department for 24 years. Bud greatly enjoyed fishing, camping, reading and playing cards. Bud died on Thursday morning, September 18, 2008 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth, Minnesota at the age of ninety eight years. Survivors include his wife, Edanelle “Eddie” Ekstrand of Blue Earth, Minnesota; two daughters, Elizabeth Boettcher and husband, Dennis, of Blue Earth, Minnesota and Tracy Lee and husband, Richard, of Washington DC; granddaughter, Maggie Sanders and husband, Rob; four grandsons, Christopher, Todd, Chad and Travis Boettcher; sisters-in-law, Gertrude Saunders and special friend, Betty Smith of Davenport, Iowa and Kelly Ziemer and special friend, DuWayne “Bud” Nutt of Fairmont, Minnesota; brother-in-law, George Saunders and wife, Peggy, of Grenada, Mississippi; several nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends. Bud was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers and five sisters and other relatives.