Dale Eklund, 71, of Harstine Island, Wash., died on March 22, 2022.
After college, Eklund worked for the U.S. Navy in weapons development before returning to the family business — Lew Rents in Olympia Wash. He joined his twin brother, Dean, to co-manage the business after the retirement of their father, Lewis. In 1988, he became owner and manager of the new branch, Lew Rents West in Olympia. The location is now managed by his son, Jason.
Eklund and his family were featured in the October 2005 cover story of Rental Management magazine. In the story they shared what it was like having multiple generations running a rental business. Dale and his brother had learned the family business from their father at an early age, just as Lewis had learned from his father, George, in the 1930s and 1940s.
Eklund is survived by his wife, Mary; children, Jennifer (Peter) Eklund Carlson, Jason (Alyson) Eklund and Jessica (Steve Meyer) Eklund; stepchildren, Paul Sanguinetti and Gina (Sean) Sanguinetti Barklay; siblings, Dean (Pam) Eklund, Donna Eklund and Linda (Bob) Eklund Phillips; and numerous grandchildren.