Steven Ervin Eaker, age 55, of Ellendale, passed away Saturday, April 1, 2006, at the home of his daughter in Ellendale.

Steve was born June 17, 1950, in Owatonna, to Herman and Esther (Wilker) Eaker.

He grew up in the Bixby area and graduated from high school in 1968 from Blooming Prairie High School, he then attended Pipestone Vo-Tech for two years, for meat cutting.

He married Donnavon Colee, Aug. 30, 1969,

at St. John’s Evangelical Church in Claremont. The couple lived in the Twin Cities, where Steve worked for Kroeger Foods and Piggly Wiggly. In January of 1973 they moved to Ellendale and purchased Pete and Rubes Market.

In 1996 Steve was named to the American Meat Processors Cured Meats Hall of Fame, and in 2005 received the American Meat Processors Achievement Award, 2006 MAMP Service to the Industry Award on March 11, of this year.

Steve had a passion for the meat industry, he loved to teach others all that he knew including his sausage making and meat curing techniques. Member of the Minnesota Association of Meat Processors, and American Association of Meat Processors.

He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Ellendale, where he taught Sunday school and confirmation classes. He was also a 4H leader and helped with the area FFA Clubs. He was also a member of the Ellendale Commercial Club.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Donnavon, daughters, Michelle (Frank) Steever of Cranston, R.I., Rachael (Mark) Lee of Ellendale, one granddaughter Genevieve Steever, one grandson Daxter Lee, one brother John Eaker of Corvalis, Ore., one sister Gloria Schibursky of Preston, Minn. Several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded by his parents and one brother David.

A celebration of his life will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale with the Rev. Arne Halbakken officiating, visitation will be Monday from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Michaelson Funeral Home in Owatonna and one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery Ellendale.

Memorials are preferred to the Meat Science Programs at Iowa State University, South Dakota State University, University of Wisconsin River Falls.