Lauren John Ike

Lauren John Ike passed away Wednesday, January 7, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona, surrounded by loving family. He was born Friday, May 30, 1941 in Williston, North Dakota to Calvin and Elsie (Borstad) Ike. He was raised and educated in Williston and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering from North Dakota State University, in Fargo, ND. On December 27, 1963, he married Helen P. Myhr in Williston and together they had three beautiful daughters. After completion of ROTC and his degree from NDSU, Lauren served his country as an officer with the United States Air Force. He was accompanied by his new wife to their first base assignment at Laredo Air Force Base in Laredo, Texas. Lauren completed pilot training in 1965 and was granted his first choice of planes, the storied F-4, and was assigned to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ, and later to Holloman AFB in New Mexico. He had always dreamed of flying “fighters”. Of special note, the extraordinary pilots of the “Class of 65-E” from Laredo AFB, remain close “brothers” to this very day. They have continually celebrated reunions for 62 years at many destinations across the mainland and Hawaii. Of special mention Dennis Zurbay, the other newly-wed of the class, who remains a close friend to this day. Following his subsequent honorable discharge from the Air Force, he started working for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington, as a mechanical/aeronautical design engineer. Boeing was instrumental in providing Lauren the opportunity to obtain his Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1975. He then accepted an assistant professorship position teaching Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University in Indiana. He later worked as an aerospace engineer for the Department of Defense at General Electric in Cincinnati, Ohio. Eventually, he became a partner/owner of Webster Foster and Weston Engineering in his home state of North Dakota. A life-long goal of his was to live and retire in the mountains of Montana. With that in mind, he completed his engineering career in 2001, as Director of Fuel Management for The Montana Power Company in Butte, Montana, after 21 years. He formed special relationships with friends Fred Walter and Tom Worring. Following retirement, he and Helen moved to Condon, MT, and the mountains of the Swan Valley and the Rockies, living there for many years and establishing enduring friendships with Nina and Dennis Monson and Sue and Bob Cushman. In 2011 they purchased their home in Mesa, AZ. Lauren enjoyed a wonderful life filled with love and family, good friends, a love of adventure and nature, and a deep abiding faith. He lived his life with honor, conviction, personal and professional ethics, and with his family always first. He is survived by Helen, his loving wife of 62 years; daughter Christi Davis and husband Michael and their 4 children (Eric Kougioulis/Courage Wleh, Amber Ketelson, Jason (Noelle) Davis, Angela (Michael) Poole); daughter Lisa McLean and husband Joseph and their 3 children (Jacob McLean, Nicole (Chris) Lacy, Lindsey (Dawnlyn) Fode; daughter Susan (Joseph) Kalarchik and their 2 children (Morgan (Jordan) LeProwse, Michael Kalarchik/Thomas Davis). In addition to the 9 grandchildren listed above, he is survived by 9 great-grandchildren: (Brayden Kougioulis, Brooklynn Ketelson), (Gavin Davis), (Brysynn Dunn, Zain Dunn, Peyton Poole), (Harper Lacy), and (Paige Fode, Sienna Fode). Other family members include 2 brothers: Richard (Katherine) Ike and family; Steve (Freida) Ike and family; 2 cousins: Margaret Sandvik, and Karen Ike; and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews, including a special mention of niece Laura Campbell and husband James, who winter near us, and have been so caring and supportive. Lauren was preceded in death by parents Elsie and Calvin Ike; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Bertha and Orville Myhr, sister and brother-in-law Linda and Bruce Campbell; and sister Sara Ike, resident uncle, Wendell Borstad, brother-in-law Doug Rerick, sister-in-law Debra Ike and son-in-law, Jack Kougioulis, angel great-granddaughter, Maddison Fode, Cremation has taken place in Arizona. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Butte, MT on February 5, 2026 at 11 AM, with entombment of ashes and a Military Honor Guard service at Fort Harrison Veteran’s Cemetery in Helena, MT on February 6th at 1:30 PM.

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Lauren John Ike

May 30, 1941 - January 7, 2026