What the family knows about Verner (written by his nephew Charlie Ekburg)
Verner C. Ekburg b 2/24/1916 – d. 1938
Verner Charles was the first child of Beda and Charlie, born in Durango, Colorado on February 24, 1916. He was the oldest of three siblings, including his sister Evelyn and brother Edwin. From comments made to me by Verner’s brother Edwin (my dad), Verner was a cut-up and jokester; that gleam is apparent in many of the photos we have of him.
Verner lived almost his whole life in La Plata city. At a young age he became involved with mining in his uncle Gus’s mine and developed superb mining and blasting skills that he shared with other mine owners in the Canyon.
Family stories say he had worked in the Red Arrow mine on the Mancos side of the La Plata Mountain, the May Day mine located at the mouth of the La Plata Canyon and consulted blasting in the Lady Eleanor mine. Such a long list for such a young man.
In 1937 or 1938 he fell down a raise or winze in the May Day mine resulting in injuries that would paralyze him and eventually claim his life in 1938. His brother Edwin’s wife, Freda told where Verner had fallen in the May Day mine; she said her information came from a neighbor, James Dennison who was on the scene of the accident and rendered aid.
Charlie Ekburg moved his family to Durango about 4 years before Verner’s accident. Verner stayed in La Plata City to work in the local mines. He moved to Durango after his accident and lived there until his death due to Pneumonia brought on by his paralysis. He was 22 years of age and remained single and childless.
You may find more images of Verner here.
Click to enlarge images.
All images copyright Ekburg Family Archive.
