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Warren Shook • 1906 - 2006 He was born Dec. 19, 1906, in Minneapolis, MN, a son of Ed and Christina (Stotz) Shook. At age two, he moved with his family to a farm south of Velva, where he was raised. He graduated from Anamoose High School and attended North Dakota State University at Fargo. He returned to the family farm and worked with his father. Mr. Shook became a skilled ham radio operator. During World War II, at age 36, he was inducted into the Army and those skills were to put to use. At one point, the allies smuggled him into Russia. He spent three weeks there, alone, setting up communication lines for General Dwight D. Eisenhower and England's Winston Churchill. In his work, he befriended the Russian people. He saved his rationed cigarettes, and provided them to the Russians, for the help they gave him. He earned a bronze star. Many years later, he was contacted by the Air Force to record the story of his assignment during the war. Following his discharge, he returned home. For some years, he worked as a blade operator clearing the roads for McHenry County; he turned his machine into the driveways of rural residents to clear the snow. For 20 years, he worked as the chief operator at the William G. Neal Power Plant at Voltaire. His handle as a ham radio operator was Uncle Easy Baker W?UEB. It suited him. He was fondly known by family as well as friends as Uncle Warren. He became everyone's favorite uncle, the guy who was a wealth of good stories and good deeds. Over time, he was himself a story. Uncle Warren was smart, resourceful and beloved. He never could get in enough reading. In retirement, he spent the winter months in Van Horn, Texas, not known for its glitter and glitz as a gathering place for snowbirds. But Uncle Warren liked it and the Mexican couple who operated the Taylor Motel where he stayed. He drove his little camper to Van Horn over a number of winters, installed his radio antennae on the roof of the Taylor and settled in. His antennae still hover over the Taylor Motel. He lived periodically with his niece and nephew, Bonnie and Severin Brekke, at their Green Valley home in Minot. In time, he was taking their children and their little neighborhood friends on small vacation trips. As he aged, he felt he still needed regular exercise. So he took to visiting one of the local grocery stores, where he wheeled a cart through the aisles - support while walking, engaging in this effort several times a day. Not wanting to be in the store without making a purchase, he bought toilet tissue and paper towel. Later, when helping him move, his family discovered "cases" of the stuff. He continued to live alone until age 95. Then he moved to Brentmoor in Minot. He had been a resident of Souris Valley Care Center in Velva since 2003. Survivors: nieces, Bonnie (Severin) Brekke, Voltaire, ND, Dollie Bahde, Lake Park, Iowa, and Marion (Bob) Dolan, Fergus Falls, MN; nephew Eddie (Jackie) Shook, Sioux Falls, SD; a number of grandnieces and grandnephews. His parents and a brother Myron preceded him in death. Funeral Service: Sunday, April 9, 2006, at 3 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home Chapel, Minot. Visitation: Saturday, from noon until 5 p.m. and Sunday prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot. Memorials: Memorials are preferred to the Souris Valley Care Center at Velva. Officiant: Rev. Ken Nelson Music: Congregational hymn,"How Great Thou Art" Honorary Bearers: Warren's family and friends Active Bearers: Duane Brekke, Severin Brekke, Bruce Brekke, Monty Lee
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