Lenoir D. Ekdahl

Funeral Services for Lenoir Delight Ekdahl (“Mrs. E”), 98, Lawrence, will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lawrence on Thursday, March 30, at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the Lutheran Cemetery in Marquette, Kansas, at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 31. Visitation will be held at Warren-McElwain from 5 – 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29.

Mrs. Ekdahl died on Friday, March 24, 2017. She was born in Marquette, Kansas, on March 27, 1918, the daughter of Clarence and Carrie (Uhler) Sjogren.

Lenoir was a resident of Lawrence since August 1955 and a devoted member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She was also a member of the Lawrence Pilot Club, American Dietetic Association, American Home Economics Association, American Association of University Women, and long-time fan and supporter of the University of Kansas.

Lenoir received her bachelor and masters degrees in Home Economics and Institutional Management from Kansas State University. She was employed as a dietitian in the housing department of the University of Kansas starting in September 1955. She retired as the Director of Food Services at the University in 1989 after 35 years of employment at KU.

Prior to her employment at KU she was a teacher in both rural and urban areas in Kansas. In 1986 she was named Douglas County Home Economist of the Year. In 1987 she was inducted into the KU Women’s Hall of Fame.

In 1993, the new dining facility at KU opened and was named in her honor. The Lenoir D. Ekdahl Dining Commons, more commonly known as Mrs. E’s, is located adjacent to Lewis Hall on Daisy Hill and is still a staple for KU students to this day.

She married Kenneth J. Ekdahl on August 14, 1955, in Marquette, Kansas. He preceded her in death on November 15, 1990. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Eleanor Burnison (Marquette) , and her brother, Faber Sjogren (Wichita).

Lenoir is survived by her sister, Sarah Jane Smith (Marquette, Kansas), her nieces, Monette Johnson (Assaria), L’Jean Swisher (Lindsborg), and Dicksie Burnison Karr (Lawrence), her nephews John Sjogren (Wichita), Alan Smith (Wichita), and Charles Smith (Lynden), and several great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, and great-great-nephews.

The family suggests that memorials may be made in her name to Trinity Lutheran Church or the Lenoir D. Ekdahl Scholarship for KU students working their way through school by employment at the University of Kansas food service. Memorials may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.

5 Condolences

  1. Clenece Hills on March 27, 2017 at 4:17 pm

    Lenoir was a friend of my mother, Vance Roberts, who died in 1998. Mother was the director of Corbin-GSP and she and Lenoir became fast friends through this connection. Many times have I been with the two of them for lunch and enjoyed their stories about students, food, shelter, and the changing times.
    I applaud the life that Mrs. E lived. She was a generous, imaginative woman who loved students. Her age was never a hindrance in relating to them – something she and my mother had in common.
    In addition, her roots in small town Marquette were similar to my mother’s in tiny town, Walton, Kansas. They had many good times and I know that they will have many more in heaven.



  2. Janis Ekdahl on March 27, 2017 at 9:49 pm

    When Lenoir married Kenneth Ekdahl in 1955 and took up residence in Lawrence, she quickly became an integral part of my extended family and one of the most essential and engaging participants in our annual Swedish Christmas Eve celebration. She and my mother—who had also married into the Ekdahl family—shared a deep interest in home economics. Aunt Lenoir always seemed interested in what I was thinking and doing, and I now realize she provided me with an early glimpse of how a woman could excel professionally. Her accomplishments at Kansas University speak for themselves. Strong family ties in both Manhattan and Marquette strengthened Lenoir and Kenneth’s 35-year marriage. Kenneth and the Ekdahl family were especially involved with the Bethany Home in Lindsborg and with Kansas State University in Manhattan.

    In addition to the survivors mentioned in the obituary, Lenoir is survived, on her husband Kenneth’s side, by 2 nieces, Janis Ekdahl of New York City and Linda Crabb of Ballwin, Missouri, and a nephew, Jon Ekdahl of Chicago as well as 3 great nieces and nephews and 6 great-great nieces and nephews.



  3. Janis Ekdahl on March 27, 2017 at 9:49 pm

    When Lenoir married Kenneth Ekdahl in 1955 and took up residence in Lawrence, she quickly became an integral part of my extended family and one of the most essential and engaging participants in our annual Swedish Christmas Eve celebration. She and my mother—who had also married into the Ekdahl family—shared a deep interest in home economics. Aunt Lenoir always seemed interested in what I was thinking and doing, and I now realize she provided me with an early glimpse of how a woman could excel professionally. Her accomplishments at Kansas University speak for themselves. Strong family ties in both Manhattan and Marquette strengthened Lenoir and Kenneth’s 35-year marriage. Kenneth and the Ekdahl family were especially involved with the Bethany Home in Lindsborg and with Kansas State University in Manhattan.

    In addition to the survivors mentioned in the obituary, Lenoir is survived, on her husband Kenneth’s side, by 2 nieces, Janis Ekdahl of New York City and Linda Crabb of Ballwin, Missouri, and a nephew, Jon Ekdahl of Chicago as well as 3 great nieces and nephews and 6 great-great nieces and nephews.



  4. James C. Dunn on April 9, 2017 at 7:28 am

    At the time I worked for the University of Kansas Resident Hall Food Service Department in the early 1970’s as a food service supervisor, Mrs. Ekdahl was the manager of my position. She was so considerate of my schedule and offered succinct comments which I continue to find useful these many years later–to this day I appreciate and remember Mrs. Ekdahl. I am sorry to have missed the memorial service–being out of the country enjoying food experiences in another part of our world.



  5. James C. Dunn on April 9, 2017 at 7:28 am

    At the time I worked for the University of Kansas Resident Hall Food Service Department in the early 1970’s as a food service supervisor, Mrs. Ekdahl was the manager of my position. She was so considerate of my schedule and offered succinct comments which I continue to find useful these many years later–to this day I appreciate and remember Mrs. Ekdahl. I am sorry to have missed the memorial service–being out of the country enjoying food experiences in another part of our world.



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