Everett "Heavy" Erks

EVERETT "HEAVY" NEIL ERKS was born to Melvin and Shirley (Crow) Erks on August 28, 1963 in Pipestone, Minnesota where he was raised and attended school. After his graduation from Pipestone High School, he attended Pipestone Vo-Tech for a degree in Bakery/Deli. He worked at Lange’s Café as a baker and later at Ellison Meats. In 1982, he married Kim Kellen in Pipestone. In 1989 he moved to Brookings, South Dakota and lived there for 10 years. While living there he was employed at Rainbow Play Systems for a short time. In, 2000, he moved back to Pipestone and started carving pipes full time. In 2003 he bought a home in Woodstock, Minnesota and lived there until 2013 when he moved back to Pipestone. In 2018, he moved in with his brother, Forrest at his home in Pipestone. Heavy had been feeling ill for the past few weeks and passed away unexpectedly at his home on February 8, 2022 at the age of 58 years, five months and ten days.

Heavy was funny, stubborn, and blunt. He was a good storyteller and had a great laugh. He might not have looked caring and loving, but he was with his kids. He raised Owen as his own and always kept a special place in his heart for him. He loved babysitting and kids had a natural love for him; he looked tough, but was really a big teddy bear. Heavy bought a Harley and enjoyed riding it as much as he could; it was his passion. His friends will remember seeing him take a drink of a cold beverage and say "oh yeah" or answer his phone with a "hey man." He just had a way about him.

He is lovingly remembered by his three children, Amber (Jeramie) McBrien, Shynia Hein and Kane Erks, all of Brookings, South Dakota; seven grandchildren, Jacob Erks, Austin and Andrew Paulson, CJ Paulson, Sidney Paulson, Jaxson Marvin and Daisy Marvin; one great-granddaughter, Raelynn Paulson; two brothers, Forrest Erks and Thorne Erks, both of Pipestone, Minnesota; and his best friend, Tim "Unk" Beaty of Brookings, South Dakota. He was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Shirley; and his ex-wife, Kim.