Oben Gunderson

On May 6 of the year 1927, Oben John Iver Gunderson came into this world and on September 5, 2018, God called him back again. He was 91 years old.

Oben was born on the farm of his parents, Oben Sr. and Mildred Nelson Gunderson - the same farm near McCanna ND that his grandfather homesteaded in 1889. For 41 years of his life, Oben carried on the family tradition of farming this land.

Starting first grade in a one-room schoolhouse, Oben graduated from Larimore High School in 1945. He often said one of the best decisions of his life was to attend Concordia College in Moorhead MN where his roller-skating expertise caught the eye of a young coed by the name of Janice Hill from Washburn ND. He also caught her heart and they were married on October 10, 1948.

A devout Lutheran, Oben attended Elk Valley Lutheran Church for most of his life, where he was both baptized and confirmed. Service to God was one of the most important things in Oben’s life and he did this by actively serving in several leadership positions at the church, eventually being appointed to the National Church Board.

When an opportunity arose to work on a mission field in Ethiopia for six months, Oben and Janice left the only life they knew and travelled to the unknown wilds of Africa. Shortly after arriving back home, Oben was voted into the ND Legislature and served there for twelve years, returning to farm the land in the summers.

In 1990, he retired from farming and moved to Grand Forks. One of the first things he and Janice did was to join Sharon Lutheran Church where both Oben and Janice regularly participated in congregational leadership and service.

His beloved Janice passed away on April 12, 2002 and, four years later, he married a high school classmate, Doris Craft, who passed away on June 14, 2011.

Oben Gunderson was preceded in death by his parents Oben and Mildred, a sister Genevieve, and both wives.

He is survived by his three children – Brad (Nadine) from Grand Forks, Cathi from Cottonwood AZ, Diane from Iwaco WA; four grandchildren – Jenny, Kjerstin (Jonah), Danielle (Nick), Ashley (Eric); and six great-grandchildren.

      Funeral Services will be 10:30 AM Monday, September 10, 2018 at Sharon Lutheran Church of Grand Forks, ND. Visitation will be Sunday, September 9, 2018 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a 6:30 PM prayer service at Amundson Funeral Home of Grand Forks. Visitation will continue for the hour before the service in the church. Burial will be in Memorial Park South Cemetery of Grand Forks.