Eldon R. Lehman, age 80, Bemidji, professor emeritus of economics, beloved husband, father and grandfather, died peacefully at Neilson Place on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006 from lung and brain cancer. The last seven weeks he had been cared for at home by family, friends and hospice.
Memorial services will be at noon on Saturday, March 18th, 2006 at the First Presbyterian Church in Bemidji with Rev. Robert Munneke conducting the service. A visitation will be from 4-7 pm at the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji on Friday, March 17. Interment following cremation will be at the Greenwood Cemetery in Bemidji under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji.
He was born on November 9, 1925, to Wilma Edna (Robinson) and Allen John Lehman in Booker, Texas. They lived in Los Angeles, Calif., for a short time but most of his young life was spent in Amarillo, TX, where he graduated from high school. In 1950 he received his Bachelor of Science degree in political science from West Texas Univ., Canyon. His Masters of Economics and Government was also from West Texas. While there he was a member of Alpha Chi. His coursework for his PhD was completed at the Univ. of Texas, Austin, Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis and University of Chicago.
After working in business for Pioneer Natural Gas Corp. and the Amarillo Oil Corp (Land Dept.) he decided to pursue the academic life. He taught economics at Pan American University, Edinburg, TX, before becoming professor of economics at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. While there he married Dessie Price of Roby, Texas. They had two sons, Charles and Robert. Following their divorce in 1982 he became a single parent, teaching and managing the household, preparing all the meals for his sons. He was a professor of economics and often chair of the department in his 30 years at Bemidji State University, retiring in 1996. In 1993-1994 he taught at Minnesota State University, Akita, Japan.
Following his marriage to Elizabeth (Betty) Anne Boughton Hanson on July 24, 1993, Eldon became an enthusiastic traveler to 30 countries. Their first year was spent in northern Japan culminating in travel to China, Malaysia and Singapore. They attended BSU's Eurospring, studying history 5 weeks at Oxford, England before touring the continent. They toured Spain. With Carol and Ray Milowski they traveled to Greece, Turkey, Egypt and the Netherlands. The trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji was with the "55 Connection." Another trip was to Argentina, around Cape Horn to Chile. Besides trips to Colorado and the southwest U.S., their last cruise was on the Baltic to St. Petersburg, Russia. He took great delight in his grandchildren: Dennis, Annika and Carter, walks by lakes in Bemidji and Itasca. Besides being an avid reader of tomes, he loved jazz, symphonic music and ballet and theater productions.
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He is survived by his wife, Betty, his sons: Charles of Crystal, MN and Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Coast Guard Robert Lehman of Saugerties, NY, by stepchildren Thomas C. Hanson (Lori), Boulder, CO, Beth (Dr. Josh) Petrikin, Rochester, Mn, brother: Olan Lehman, Amarillo, TX, grandchildren, Dennis Adams of Laporte (Maire, mother), Emily Hawkinson of Richmond Hill, GA (Kimberly, mother), Carter Hanson and Annika Petrikin plus numerous nieces and nephews. Special long-time friends are Fern Birnstihl, Mary Ann Steele and Lynette How.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters Allene Tucker, Ruth Stewart and Dorothy Chavey. Suggested memorials are to the Bemidji Symphony or North Country Hospice.
Pallbearers will be his sons, Charles and Bob, Lynette How and Professor Pat Welle of the BSU Economics Department. Honorary pallbearers will be Carol and Ray Milowski of Bemidji and from Park Rapids: Arlene and Howard Salter and Eleanor and Harold Olson.
