Edward Erban
July 6, 1921 – May 17, 2008

MOHALL - Edward Joseph Erban, 86, of Mohall, North Dakota, passed away Saturday May 17, 2008 at the Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, Minnesota.

Ed was born to Michael and Anna (Omachinski) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  He was raised in Oshkosh and graduated from Oshkosh High School.  Ed married Helen J. Schoenrock on December 5, 1941.  Helen and Ed shared 65 years together blending a life style of professional basketball in the early years and church building with the family business, Schoenrock & Sons.  They lived in Toledo, Ohio, Oshkosh Wisconsin, Havre and Miles City Montana before settling in Mohall in 1956.

Ed was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Mohall, Mohall Country Club, Mohall Legion Club and Minot Elks.

Ed attended the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and played professional basketball starting in 1941 with the Toledo White Hats and then the Oshkosh All Stars. A 6-5 guard, Big Ed was pensioned by the National Basketball Association for his professional participation in the professional basketball leagues that eventually formed the current National Basketball Association. He served in the United States Marine Corps and received an honorable discharge for his service during World War II.

After his retirement from professional basketball in 1948, Ed started a new career as a bricklayer and stone mason with the family church building business.  His masonry talents can be witnessed in hundreds of churches throughout Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. Along with his brother in-law, Dave Schoenrock of Hazen North Dakota, they created and installed such notable stone work as the sanctuary walls of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Williston, North Dakota; Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater, Minnesota; Incarnation Lutheran Church in Shoreview, Minnesota; St. Thomas Catholic Church in Tioga, North Dakota; Zion Lutheran Church in Beulah, North Dakota and numerous churches in Minot and Hillsboro, North Dakota.

“Big Ed” as he was known by many, radiated a personality that you never forgot. People fortunate enough to share thoughts and time with him always looked forward to the next time, because they became part of his extended family. An avid fisherman, he spent countless hours with his grandson Scott Bekken and many other fishing partners. His golfing was legendary at the Mohall Country Club breaking the course record with a 29.  Rumor has it, the time he spent with his poker club financed his house.  He enjoyed thoroughbred horseracing especially his aptly named race horse, Pink Martini.

Big Ed always said, “Don’t cry at my funeral, have a Polish tea”

Family: son, Steve (Dorothy) Erban Stillwater, Minn.; daughter, Sandy (Jim) Bekken New Rockford; grandchildren, Bryce (Caley) Erban, White Bear Lake, Minn.; Mason Erban, Stillwater, Minn.; Scott Bekken, Anoka, Minn.; Aaron Bekken, Seattle; Stephanie (Brady) Lyson, Grand Forks; siblings Marion Sturm, Oshkosh; Audrey (John) Henderson, Green Bay; Elmer (Ivy), Moses Lake, Wash.; Bob, Shawno, Wis.;  Ed had a very special relationship with relatives Bud (Shirley) Schoenrock, Oshkosh, Wis; Dave (Gisela) Schoenrock, Hazen; Tracy Schoenrock, Laurie Hill, Stephanie Bruggman, David Schoenrock, Stephen Schoenrock, Christopher Schoenrock, Jennifer Hines and Josh, Katie, Christina Bruggman.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Helen; his parents; his siblings John, Richard, Charlie, Harold, Walter, Gert Schein, and Dorothy Koehn.

Funeral: Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 10:30 am at Zion Lutheran Church, Mohall

Burial: Mohall Community Cemetery at High Noon

Sharing of Memories Service:  Today at 8 p.m. at the church

Celebration:  Thursday at the Mohall American Legion Club at 1 p.m. with Lunch

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View Mr. Erban's memorial folder
Erban folder inside
Erban folder outside

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