Ervin “Mick” Eckmann, 89, passed away on Friday, June 19, 2026, at Huron Regional Medical Center. His funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, June 29, 2026 at American Lutheran Church in Huron with burial to follow at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery in Huron. Visitation, with his family present, will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday morning. Military honors will be conducted by Huron Veteran’s Council.

Ervin was born December 25, 1936, to John and Alice (Meyer) Eckmann at the Sprague Hospital, Huron, SD. Ervin (Mick) was baptized and confirmed at the Methodist Church in Cavour, SD. He joined sisters Neva, Esther, and Edna.

Ervin attended Richland Township School and graduated from Cavour High School in 1954. He joined the S.D. National Guard and served until 1961. Farming was in his blood, and so he farmed with his father after graduation. He met the love of his life when he visited the A & W Root Beer stand in Huron. He married B. Jean Kamenz on November 2, 1958, at the American Lutheran Church in Huron. They began married life in Huron and later moved to Ervin’s farm home, where he had been raised. They became members of Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Iroquois.

On April 21, 1960, Dean E. Eckmann was born. His brother James A. Eckmann arrived on February 14, 1962. In 1971 Ervin and Jean moved into a new home built just north of where he grew up. While farming Ervin raised corn, soybeans and small grain along with cattle and hogs. During the years on the farm the family enjoyed the company of many dogs. Some named Fritz, Shep and Cheyenne.

Ervin quit farming in 1980 and turned the business over to his two sons. He then pursued a different line of work. He liked to travel as well as visit with people, so he branched out into the insurance business. He operated the insurance business at home and Jean handled the administrative duties. He represented De Smet Farm Mutual and Iowa Farm Mutual. He sold the insurance business in 2007.

In 1980 he also started working for Sokota Seed, eventually becoming a district sales manager. He continued in this position when AgriPro bought Sokota. Later he worked for NC+ and then Legend Seeds until retirement in 2011.

Ervin and Jean enjoyed traveling and occasionally visited Laughlin, NV. There were bus trips to Branson, MO. He enjoyed traveling to various venues to attend Molly B shows. And Ervin and Jean especially liked visiting Deadwood in the Black Hills!

Ervin and Jean moved to Huron in 2013. They renewed their membership at American Lutheran. Even though town life was good, the farm fields still called him to see how crops were growing. He helped his sons when they needed an extra hand. In 2025 they moved to Peaceful Pines Senior Living.

Ervin was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and their spouses; Neva and Gil Hammer, Esther and Warren Gilchrist, Edna and Bob Trenary/Marvin Riley.

Ervin is survived by his wife Jean, son Dean and his long-time companion Jodi Parhurst; and her son Aaron Laird, son Jim and his wife Carol. His grandchildren by Jim and Carol are Allen Eckmann (Sioux Falls), Amie (Aaron) Delgado (Dell Rapids), Aaron (Allison) Eckmann (Orange City, IA) and Andrea Eckmann (Sioux Falls); great grandchildren Sampson Delgado, Moses Marie Delgado, Enoch Delgado, Azariah Delgado, Noah Noelle Delgado and Ezra Jane Delgado; his sister and brother in-law Connie (Kamenz) and Thomas Earley (Dell Rapids) and his many nephews, nieces, and cousins.