Daniel M. Aaker, age 86, of Lakota, ND, passed away Saturday, May 14, 2011 at the Lakota Good Samaritan Center in Lakota, ND.

Daniel Merton Phillip Aaker was born December 12, 1924 at the farm home near Hatton, ND, the son of Carl E. and Eina (Johnson) Aaker. He was raised in the Hatton area and attended the rural schools. He moved with his family to Arvilla, ND in 1936. He graduated from Larimore High School in 1942. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving in the South Pacific. After his discharge he worked at Larimore , ND for Bradshaw Gravel and the North Dakota State Highway Department. He attended the University of North Dakota. Dan married Betty Jane Rustebakke at McCanna, ND on September 3, 1950. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1951 with a degree in Mortuary Science. He worked for Hanson-Anderson Funeral Home in Grand Forks, ND and the Thomas Funeral Home in Minot, ND. He worked for the Great Northern Railway from 1953 to 1958, in the engineering department. The couple moved to Lakota in 1959 and operated the Aaker Funeral Home until retiring in 1982. They spent 26 winters in Mesa, Arizona until 2007. He was active in his community affairs.

Dan is survived by his wife, Betty; son, James (Jeanne) Aaker of Lakota; daughter, Dee Ann (Marc) Taylor of Mandan, ND; 4 granddaughters, Carlee (Randy) Thomson of Cando, ND, Anna Rose Taylor of Brookings, SD, Christina Taylor of Brookings, SD, and Danielle Taylor of Mandan, ND; 2 great grandsons, Kaleb Thomson and Kole Thomson; 2 sisters, Caroline Meldahl of Hatton, ND and Phyllis (Roger) Sinkler of Fargo, ND.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 3 brothers, Eric, Carl Jr., and Robert; and 3 sisters, Marian Pagel, Bernice Haller, and Ruth Aaker.

The Funeral Service will be held at the Lakota Lutheran Church on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. Officiating will be the Reverend Reuben Schnaidt. The organist will be Karen Fowler and the soloist will be Jason Flom. Interment will be in the Lakota Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by the Rundell-Holicky American Legion Post #21 of Lakota. Visitation will be held at the Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota on Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church on Wednesday, from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service.