Ricky Gene Eckstein, 61, of Thief River Falls, MN, died at his residence on Monday, May 17, 2021, of natural causes.

Service 11 AM Friday, May 21, 2021,Trinity Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls, MN. Family.

Visitation will be one hour before the service.

Burial will be at Wylie Cemetery, rural Red Lake Falls, MN.

Ricky was born on August 7, 1959, the 3 ^rd of 6 children to Theodore and Shirley Eckstein at Red Lake Falls, MN.  He attended Red Lake Falls, graduating in 1978 from Lafayette High School.  He attended Thief River Falls Vocational Tech School to be an auto mechanic.  In 1980, Ricky graduated from the Vocational School and moved to Bird Island, MN, to work.  Later, he moved to the Twin City Area, where he worked on Skid Steers.  In October of 1999, Ricky was involved in a car accident that changed his life.  Due to his injuries, he returned to Thief River Falls to be closer to family.

Tinkering with mechanical things, gardening, collecting coins, stamps, and Tonka Trucks was meaningful.  Fishing with friends was also a joy to him.  Ricky enjoyed helping people with problems they encountered.  Family gatherings and spending time with his nephews and nieces were meaningful to him.  Caring for city flowers and talking with Main Street people provided Ricky with meaning and purpose.

Ricky is survived by his mother, Shirley LaCoursiere, Thief River Falls, MN; Siblings Sherryl Eckstein, Red Lake Falls, MN; Calvin (Mary) Eckstein, Red Lake Falls, MN; Randy (Elaine) Eckstein, New Prague, MN; Steve (Sandy) Eckstein, Jensen Beach, FL; and Chad (Shirley) Eckstein, Parkerfield, KS; several nephews and nieces, aunts and uncles.

He was preceded in death by his father, Theodore Eckstein, 1989, and step-father, Leo LaCoursiere, 2016.