Duane Ueland

Duane O. Ueland, age 80, resident of Cooperstown, ND passed away peacefully at Griggs County Care Center, Cooperstown, ND Friday, May 5, 2017 after a courageous battle fighting influenza B & pneumonia.

Duane was born October 18, 1936 in Riverside Township, rural Cooperstown to Olav & Dagny (Edland) Ueland. He was the youngest of 10 children. He was baptized & confirmed at Ness Church, rural Cooperstown. He attended rural school in Riverside Township & Cooperstown High School. He entered the US Navy in January, 1955. He was stationed on the USS Saint Paul (CA&73) & was honorably discharged in 1959. His eldest brother, Mervil continued farming when their father, Olav, unexpectedly passed away in 1937, at the age of 48. Duane was only 10 months old. When Duane got discharged from the Navy he returned to the family farm which became his lifelong passion. He was especially close to his sister, Blanche’s sons; Mike, John & Chuck Rawson who spent summers in ND helping out on the farm & continued to call & visit him during his aging years. He served on the Riverside Township board & was a member of American Legion Post #143, Cooperstown, ND.

On December 23, 1978 he married Sandra Eberle and to that union they had two daughters, Jennifer (Daniel) Elston, rural Rogers, ND & Jerilyn Ueland, Minneapolis, MN. They divorced in 1990 but continued to be good friends. They continued to have Sunday family dinners as the girls grew up. In 2010 he met his daughter Rose (Steve) Baggs, Las Vegas, NV. She flew to ND & enjoyed time with her Dad & sisters. Since that time they have kept in touch. Duane retired from farming in 1990 and rented out his farmland. He continued to work as a farm hand for Mike Heinze & later for Keven & Nathan Lunde. He sold the farmstead in 2003 & moved to Sibley, ND. He enjoyed having breakfast & coffee with his friends & neighbors at the lake & riding his golf cart. He entered the Griggs County Care Center in July of 2015. He made new friends, & caught up with residents he knew from the past. He enjoyed visiting with the staff that cared for him and playing guitar.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Gavin, Mervil, & Olav, sisters Blanche, Anne, Arla, Clarice, Eunice & Verna.

Duane is survived by his daughters Jennifer, Jerilyn & Rose, his former wife Sandra Ueland, grandchildren Jenna & Dylan Elston, Breann (Wayne) Branson, Jordan (Eric) Mruk, & Austin Baggs, great grandchildren Dane, Kenley, Jaxon, Payton & Raelyn along with several nieces & nephews.

Funeral services for Duane will be 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at Luverne Lutheran Church, Luverne, ND. Visitation will be one hour prior to services in the church. Interment will be in the Ness Cemetery, Cooperstown, ND. Arrangements with the Cooperstown Funeral Chapel.

In lieu of flowers memorials are directed to Ness Cemetery.