Harold “John” Eckert

Harold “John” Eckert, age 68, Kadoka, S.D., died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, at the Wanblee Health Care Center in Wanblee.

 

Harold Eckert, Jr., better known as John to his family and friends, was born Nov. 16, 1949, at Midland to Harold and Anna (Prochaska) Eckert. 

 

John attended grade school in Belvidere and high school in Midland, graduating in 1968.

 

Driving truck was John’s passion. He started out at a very young age driving for the family business, Eckert Trucking. John was well-known up and down the highway by his CB radio handle, Daddy Rabbit. His younger brother, Bob, also drove for the family business. 

 

The Eckert Trucking business sold in the early 1980s, but John continued driving truck. He worked for Larry Byrd for several years before taking employment with the South Dakota Department of Transportation, which continued for the next 15 years. Meanwhile, he was the part-time transport driver for Grant Patterson at Discount Fuel. John was a faithful employee at Kadoka Oil, driving the propane truck for Mark and Tammy Carlson until the time of his passing. He totaled 31 years employment between Patterson and Carlson.

 

John enjoyed getting in on a game of poker and he enjoyed fishing and hunting.

 

Survivors include two daughters, Lori (Aaron) Iversen, Murdo, and Bobbi Jo (Ben Gaylord) Eckert, Irving, Texas; two grandchildren, Carter and Taya Iversen, Murdo; one brother, Bob Eckert of Kadoka; one nephew, Rob (Peggy) Eckert, Kadoka; and a host of other relatives and friends.

 

John was preceded in death by his parents and a sister-in-law, Jill Eckert.

 

Private family graveside services will be held at the Belvidere Cemetery.

 

Arrangements were with Rush Funeral Home of Kadoka.