Former farmer and rancher Eugene V. “Gene” Ecklund, 79, Herington, died Nov. 1 at Council Grove.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Wilsey Christian Church in Wilsey. A private burial will take place at a later date.

Born Nov. 12, 1936, to Vernie and Anna (Lehmann) Ecklund at Burdick, he attended Prairie Star Grade School and graduated from Burdick High School. He married Jean Anderson on April 19, 1957, at the Christian Church in Hope.

Gene was a member of Wilsey Christian Church and served on the Farmers Home Administration board, as chairman of Morris County Soil Conservation and Diamond Creek Watershed boards, and also as a member and president of Herington Riding Club.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Leon Ecklund, and a grandson.

He is survived by his wife, Jean; daughters, Pam Spriggs of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Debbie Kresky of McPherson, and Karen Biehler of Herington; brother, Merle Ecklund of Lost Springs; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial has been established for Wilsey Christian Church.