Ervin John Long

Ervin John Long, 90, of Detroit Lakes passed away on Friday, August 25, at 12:01 am at Essentia Health Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota.

Ervin was born on September 15, 1926 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota to Erwin and Emma Peterson Long. Erv attended school in Fergus Falls and lived in that area until he was eighteen.

On September 14, 1944, Erv enlisted in the Navy. He served aboard the destroyer, the USS Norris. Through most of his service aboard the USS Norris he was in the Far East along the Chinese and Korean coasts.

After being discharged from the Navy in May of 1946, Erv returned to the Fergus Falls area where he met Vivian Trandem. On June 6, 1950, Ervin and Vivian were married in Webster, South Dakota. The couple returned to Fergus Falls where their first three sons, Steve, Dean, and Dan were born. Erv made a career as a lineman for Otter Tail Power Company and the family moved to Morris where three more sons, Scott, Brian, and Jeff were born. Erv and Viv raised their boys in Morris and Erv continued to work for Otter Tail Power until he retired in 1991.

After retirement Ervin and Vivian moved to Colorado Springs where they lived until 1993. Returning to Minnesota, they made their home at their cabin on Heilberger Lake near Elizabeth, Minnesota. They remained there until they moved to the Union Central Senior Living Complex in Detroit Lakes.

On December 1 of 2013, Viv passed away and Scott began to help care for Erv. They moved to Menahga for a short time before returning to Detroit Lakes. In the spring of 2016, Erv and Scott moved into his home at 508 West Avenue in Detroit Lakes. He remained there in his own home, cared for by his sons, until Thursday when he passed away. He was three weeks short of his 91st birthday.

Ervin was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Vivian, his parents; brothers, Donnie, Bob, Normy; sisters, Lorraine and Dorothy.

He is survived by his six sons, Steve Lori; deceased, Dean Linda, Dan, Scott, Brian, and Jeff Janet; nine grandchildren, Heidi, Taylor, Dereck, Josh, Jen, Nicholas, Zach, Karli, and Grant; and nine great-grandchildren.

He will be missed!

A casual memorial service will be held on Friday, September 1, at 3pm, and a time of fellowship to follow until 6:00P.M. at the Long Lake Park shelter, 650 Longview Dr. Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.