Duane Gulland

   Duane Gulland, 79, of Ayr, N.D., passed away on Friday, September 9, 2022, in West Fargo, under Hospice care.

   Duane William Gulland was born on October 7, 1942 in Fargo, N.D., to Clarence and Amanda (Krueger) Gulland.  His family moved from a farm near Amenia, ND, to a farm near Absaraka, N.D. when he was four, and he attended elementary grade school in Absaraka before graduating from Wheatland High School in 1960.

   While helping his sister move to San Jose, CA in 1962, Duane met and fell in love with his sister’s next-door neighbor, Marilynn Cox.  Duane and Marilynn were married on January 17, 1964 in Saratoga, CA.  Duane and Marilynn returned to North Dakota where they raised their three children, and where he lived for the remainder of his life.  Marilynn passed away on October 6, 1994.

  Duane was a man with a big laugh and an even bigger heart.  He adored spending time with his children and grandchildren, and never missed an opportunity to enjoy visiting with family and friends.  He showed up for every dance recital, musical performance, sporting event, and life celebration of his grandchildren, and made friends wherever he went.  He never forgot a birthday or anniversary.  A lifelong farmer, he never really retired, but instead focused on being the “Uber driver” for machinery in the field even as his health began to fail.  In addition to spending time with his family, he loved hunting, fishing, and playing cards, and spending time with Laverne, whom he dubbed “the last love of his life.”  He was treasurer of the Wheatland Rod & Gun club for 30 years, involved with the Empire Township Board, and a regular with the W.O.W. Card Club.  He belonged to St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Amenia Township as a child and was later a lifelong member of Martin’s Lutheran Church in Casselton.

   Duane is survived by his children, Sue Kensok, Fargo, Debra (Dustin) Bjugstad, Fargo, and David (Holly) Gulland, West Fargo; the last love of his life, Laverne Schneider; 9 grandchildren, Amanda, Adam, Brandon, Jenna, Jessica, Savannah, Elyssa, Elijah, and Anna; 66 foster grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren, Ayden, Rylee, Aurie, Colter, and Renly; siblings, Bonnie (Kent) Eicholtz, Bernard (Marilyn) Gulland; and several nieces and nephews.

   He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marilynn; a son-in-law, Dennis Kensok; and siblings, Clarence (JoAnn) Gulland, Diane (Darrell) Knutson, and Betty (Bruce) Whitmore.

   In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Anne Carlson Center.

   Visitation: Thursday, September 15, 2022, from 5-7 p.m., followed by a prayer service at 7 p.m. in West Funeral Home, Casselton, N.D.

   Memorial Service: Friday, September 16, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. in Martin’s Lutheran Church, Casselton, N.D., with visitation one hour prior to the service.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

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