February 12,1939-September 25, 2026
Donald Morken, age 87, of Harker Heights, Texas, passed away on September 25, 2026, surrounded by his family.
Donald Morken was born on February 12, 1939, in Atlanta Township, Minnesota to Clarence and Agnes Morken. Don grew up in rural Ulen, Minnesota and was raised on a dairy farm. He graduated from Ulen High School in 1958 and was baptized and confirmed at Atlanta Lutheran Church. He was drafted by the US Army where he proudly served at Fort Hood, Texas. After serving in the Army, he worked at Connell Chevrolet as a body man. While working at Connell Chevrolet, he attended Central Texas College in Killeen, Texas and went on to obtain a job in Civil Service at Fort Hood, Texas where he worked in data processing.
Don met the love of his life, Shirley Reeves, at the Fort Hood skating rink where they became competitive skating partners. Don married Shirley on May 5, 1965, in Killeen, Texas and had three children. In 1981, Don and Shirley purchased Texas Skateland in Harker Heights. They were proud owners serving the local community until 2024 when a fire destroyed their business.
Don was a proud member of the Roller Skating Association for 43 years. He was a member of the Speed Skating Association for several years where he coached his son to become a National Champion Speed Skater at the age of 8. Don will always be remembered for running a safe family environment where generation after generation came to skate. He was also known for always having his whistle and blowing it at anyone who broke the rules. In his later years, he enjoyed spending time with his granddaughter, watching Westerns and football, and going to casinos with his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Agnes Morken, and his older brother, Ronald Schennum and his younger brother, Curtis Morken.
Don is survived by his wife of 61 years, Shirley; his oldest daughter Valerie (John) Koester; his son Steven Morken; and his youngest daughter Natalie (Andrew) Kirshner; one granddaughter Brooke Kirshner; one sister, Sharon (Richard) Carlson, Shoreview, Minnesota; one brother Larry (Neva) Morken, Warsaw, Missouri.
Visitation will be held on October 18, 2026, from 5:00-7:00 pm at Crawford and Bowers in Killeen, Texas. Funeral Services will be held on October 19, 2026, at 11:30 am at Crawford and Bowers in Killeen, Texas. Interment will take place at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas on October 19, 2026, at 1:00 pm.
