Edward "Gordon" McLean

Edward Gordon McLean, 82, died Thursday, March 19, 2015, at his home near Gilby, North Dakota. Gordon was born on October 24, 1932, in Grand Forks, ND, to Everett Gordon and Pearl Alice (Larson) Mclean of Gilby. He attended school in Gilby and studied animal husbandry at NDSU in Fargo. In 1954 he married Lyla Normand of Oakwood, ND, and together they raised four children. He was an active farmer and cattleman at Gilby. Although his college career consisted of just three partial years, his dedicated pursuit of knowledge was lifelong. He had an inquisitive mind and a bent towards scientific research. In addition to farming, Gordon conducted numerous field, machinery, and fertilizer trials. He began his cattle herd in 1952 and performance testing in the early 60's. He also worked tirelessly to promote and improve health, production, and diversity of both crops and livestock through participation and leadership in a number of organizations, which include the following: ND Stockmen's Association, National Cattlemen's Association (Products, Labeling and Inspection Committee and Group Resolutions Committee), ND Beef Cattle Improvement Association, Society of Range Management, ND Cattle Feeders Association, ND Beef Commission, ND, American Hereford Assn, American Polled Hereford Association, ND Ag Coalition, Grand Forks County Agriculture Improvement Assn., North West Farm Managers, State Farm Bureau, NDSU President's Club, Red River Edible Bean Growers Assn., National Sunflower Growers, National Barley Growers, National Wheat Growers, National Durum Growers, and the ND Corn Growers Assn.. Gordon was the pioneer commercial corn grower in Grand Forks County; his experimentations became the foundation to serious corn production in the Northern Red River Valley. Other interests he was able to pursue were architecture, woodworking, and trees. These interests led him to design, build, and landscape his home. Upon retirement he was able to spend more time gardening: attending horticultural workshops and testing out tomato varieties in his raised beds. Gordon took pride in his close knit community. He strived to be a good neighbor like those he had grown up with. He has been a Boy Scouts leader, a 4-H leader, a member of the PTA and on the Wheatfield Township board. He had fun with these endeavors and was not opposed to a water fight, or other playful activities. We his family will dearly miss him and we appreciate all the miles he travelled to see us at the Normand family reunions, at the McLean gatherings, and to Norway to visit his children and grandchildren. Gordon is survived by his daughter Laura McLean of Gilby; son Burton McLean (Tone Kaasa) of Vestskogen, Norway; daughter Elizabeth Misund (Eldar Misund) of Oslo, Norway; grandchildren Teah Kaasa McLean (of Gilby), Eva Emilie Misund, Ian and Kayla Kaasa McLean. He is survived by his sister Marjorie (John) Kruger of Clyde Hill, Washington and nephew and nieces in Washington. He is also survived by many close Normand in-laws and their children. He is preceded in death by his parents; wife Lyla; son Gregory of Gilby; and son-in-law Von Anderson of Orr, ND. Burial: A private burial will follow at Prairie Home Cemetery, Gilby, ND. Memorials are suggested to Altru's Hospice, The Gilby Fire and Rescue Department, NDSU Research Foundation, North Dakota Stockmen's Foundation, or to cancer research.