Edwin D. "Ed" Morken

Edwin Duane "Ed" Morken of Genesee, died Thursday, August 31, 2017 at Bishop Place Senior Living in Pullman. He was 85. Ed was born to Edwin A. and Cletus Gustafson Morken on October 6, 1931 in Spokane, WA. The family moved to the Genesee farm in 1934. Ed attended all 12 grades in the Genesee School system, graduating from Genesee High School in 1949. His interests in traveling and the lure of the sea and the coastal area, he enrolled as a student at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, graduating with a BA in Economics and Business Administration. Since the Korean War was in progress he volunteered for active duty with the United States Navy immediately after graduation from college. Ed was commissioned Ensign USNR-R in 1954 and assigned as a Line Officer aboard the USS Merapi operating in the mid-Atlantic and Asian area including an 18 month duty tour in the 1956 Bikini Atomic tests. After six years of active duty, Ed requested Reserve Duty and joined an Intelligent Unit in Seattle and Portland until moving to Genesee, where he was promoted to Lt. Commander and assumed command of the Lewiston/Clarkston Training Facility in 1964. Ed was assigned as Commandant's Representative, 13th Naval District for the Palouse Empire Area. Farming became more time consuming with his dad, E.A. Morken's retirement, so Ed requested Retired Reserve Status from his 14 years of enjoyable adventures with the Navy. 1n 1958, while stationed in Seattle, he met Betty Treu of Kansas who was working as a United Airlines flight attendant and they were married in Seattle on January 11, 1959. Ed and Betty continued to live in Seattle after Ed's release from active duty from the Navy and his employment with General America Corporation (now Safeco). In 1964 Betty and Ed moved to Genesee to assist in the Morken farm operation. Ed was active in wheat, pea and lentil boards, and was a member of the Latah County Republican Party. In August of 1995, he was appointed to the Idaho State Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee by then Secretary of Agriculture, Earl Butz. Ed continued farming after the death of his parents until his retirement in 2001. His interest were many outdoor activities such as hunting, Priest Lake fishing and water skiing. He and Betty loved to travel, especially cruising in distant places- around Cape Horn, Russia, China and the Baltic. He was a lifelong football fan of the WSU Cougars and was active in the American Legion Post. Ed is survived by his wife of 58 years, Betty, at their Genesee country home, daughter, Nanette and her husband, Patrick Padero of Buckley, WA and his beautiful granddaughters, Sydney and Sophia. Ed also leaves his siblings, Mary Stout of Genesee, Donald (Sharon) Morken of Seattle and Betsy (David) Ritchie of Woodenville, WA The Morken Family would like to express their sincere appreciation to all of the wonderful staff at Bishop Place for taking such great care of Ed during his final days. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 9th at 10:00 A.M. at the Genesee Valley Lutheran Cemetery. Pastor Dana Helsing of the Genesee Lutheran Church will officiate and Military Honors will be provided by Bielenberg-Schoolar Post #58 American Legion. A reception will follow in the Valley Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. The family suggests memorials be made to the Genesee High School Foundation. Arrangements have been entrusted to Short's Funeral Chapel, Moscow, and online condolences may be sent to www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.