The force known as Kevin Ehrman-Solberg (aka Old Man Kevin, Ducky, and Cowboy Dan) was born on November 20, 1987. He passed unexpectedly of unknown causes on June 12th, 2021. He lived in Minneapolis his entire life, attending Minnetonka High School, Augsburg University and the University of Minnesota. Kevin double majored in History and English at Augsburg. While completing his master’s in Geographic Information Science, he co-founded Mapping Prejudice, a ground breaking project showing the extent of racial covenants in property deeds in the Twin Cities and around the country. He continued this work in conjunction with the University of Minnesota Libraries using GIS skills while working on his PhD in Geography.
Kevin was nationally known for his articulate and passionate presentations on the history of systemic racism in our community. He was a deeply committed social activist, a firebrand who always questioned the status quo and worked with a focused vision for radical change. During and after the unrest following the George Floyd murder, he and his fiancée, Maggie Mills, worked tirelessly to protect the unhoused, helping to move them into the former Sheraton Hotel and later providing support at encampments.
Kevin loved to travel, although he was more likely to be found exploring underground in a new city than viewing the sights popular with other tourists. With his fellow urban explorers, he visited caves, sewers, abandoned buildings; anywhere he might find old bottles, posters, bricks. Old things always interested him much more than anything new. Kevin developed serious mechanical skills in the course of remodeling his recently purchased duplex. He and Maggie scoured the wild places they visited for old building materials to create their home.
Kevin struggled with many personal challenges in his life, but he faced down the demons within himself and went on to heroically challenge the demons within our society. He was a shooting star, shedding a brilliant light as he burned through this dimension. His life was too short, but he packed more into his few years than most people do in a longer lifetime. He was a beloved son, brother, fiancé, friend, colleague, and champion of a brighter world.
Kevin is survived by his beloved partner and fiancée Maggie Mills, his mother Virginia Ehrman, his father Kenneth Solberg, his step-mother Jacque Wiersma, his sister Bridget Ehrman-Solberg and his step-brothers Jacob and Raphael Wilson. An article about him appeared in the special obituary section of the Minneapolis StarTribune on Friday, June 18, 2021.
We invite you to share a story, photo, or any other kind of memento on the well wishes page as we celebrate the incredible life of Kevin. We appreciate your support and words of love and support. Thank you for visiting
Memorial Donations
Donations can be made either to the Zakah fund or to a support fund to directly help Maggie during this time.
ZACAH
Zakat, Aid and Charity Assisting Humanity (ZACAH) is a Minnesota-based, 501c(3), grassroots organization dedicated to the collection and re-distribution of wealth, including Zakat (mandatory charitable tax for all Muslims) and Sadaqah (any donations), within our Minnesota community. ZACAH strives to support the multiracial working-class of Minnesota, especially those facing poverty, the threat of eviction and displacement, and unsheltered homelessness. You can find out more about their organization by visiting their website:
https://www.zacah.org/Support Fund
Checks or gifts can be paid to Kevin's fiancé Marguerite Mills or directly via Venmo @McarmelM
Memorial Service
Saturday, June 19th
St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church
Gathering time 10:00 -11:00 AM, Service starts at 11:00 AM
Address: 4537 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis MN 55419
Flowers can be sent to the church. Because of COVID restrictions, we will not hold a reception after the service at the church. Instead, we invite you to an outdoor Celebration of Life next Tuesday.
Celebration of Life
4:00 PM Tuesday, June 22nd
Nicollet Island -
Outdoor amphitheater next to the pavilion
40 Power Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Food: Kevin loved F12 Kitchen and the incredible work they've done providing meals to encampments around the Twin Cities. He also loved their food, which he enjoyed at protests and late-night shifts at park sanctuaries. Kevin had hoped to hire F12 to cater his and Maggie's wedding. To honor him, F12 has offered their labor and culinary talents to providing free meals and desserts for all at the celebration of Kevin's life on Tuesday the 22nd at 4pm at the Nicollet Island amphitheater. If you can, please consider a donation of any amount in Kevin's memory to support this amazing project (Venmo @F12PK)
