George M. Gunderson

The world has dimmed with the loss of George M. Gunderson, Jr. on August 3, 2011. George, the ninth of fourteen children, was born in Thief River Falls, Minnesota on February 27, 1922 to George Mollerud Gunderson and Anna (Sollom) Gunderson. With his family he settled in Reynolds, North Dakota in 1935. He graduated from Reynolds High School in 1940 and remained home to work the family farm following the death of his father in 1939. In 1964, George married Marion Gustafson. Several years after her passing in 1977, he married Bonnie Stromsodt who has also since passed. George was an honest, hard-working man. Beginning in 1945 he worked as a mechanic for Grand Forks Motor Hospital and Herman Sondrol. Then he was employed by Hills Oliver Implement as a shop foreman for twelve years and retired in 1987 after twenty years as shop foreman with the Grand Forks County Highway Department. In a world of mass transit and bustling cities, George was happiest in North Dakota where he grew up. Full of vigor he played basketball, the trombone, and loved to fish and dance (his favorite haunts being Whitey's and the Eagle's Club in East Grand Forks). In his intelligent, gentle, good-humored way, he was always helpful to those in need and took life's responsibilities seriously. Those, whose lives he touched were made better through knowing him. George loved much and was much loved. In addition to many good friends, he is survived by his family, Terri Soucha, Memphis, Tennessee, Randy Soucha, Vernon Gunderson in Minnesota, Verna Bullinger in Florida, Madeline Botz and Dorothy Sagaser in California, and many nieces and nephews. He will be missed by those he left behind but don't worry about George, by now he's up above dancing with the angels. The family prefers that memorials be given to Americus-St. Olaf Cemetery, Ron Gjelsness, 781 First Ave NE, Reynolds, North Dakota 58275. Memorial Services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 10, 2011 in Amundson Funeral Home, 2975 S. 42nd St., Grand Forks. Interment will follow in Americus Cemetery, Reynolds, North Dakota. On-line guestbook is available at www.amundsonfuneralhome.com