Orvis A. Gunderson

Orvis A. Gunderson, 83, Moorhead, MN, died on Sunday, March 26, 2006, in his home under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley. Orvis A. Gunderson was born on December 1, 1922, in a log cabin in Moland Township near Glyndon, MN, to Almer and Amanda Olson Gunderson. He grew up and attended rural school there, and graduated from Moorhead High School in 1941. He attended Wahpeton State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND, where he studied electrical engineering. He worked in the Navy yards at Bremerton, WA, wiring aircraft carriers, before entering the U.S. Army Air Corps on June 29, 1943. He served in WWII as an Electrical Specialist with a B26 Bomber Group, all over Europe. He was discharged on December 7, 1945 and returned to Moorhead. Orvis married Marietta Bartholomaus on October 12, 1947, at Concordia Lutheran Church near Glyndon and they made their home in Moorhead. He went to work for Horvick Electric in Moorhead and then started an electric motor business, Gunderson Electric, in Fargo. He later sold this business and went to work as plant engineer at Cass-Clay Creamery, where he spent thirty five years, retiring in 1984. In retirement, he and Marietta spent 18 winters in Arizona, where he was active on the board of the Palm Gardens Mobile Home Park. He was an avid woodworker, golfer, bowler, square dancer and enjoyed shuffleboard. He also loved working on his computer, emailing friends and family. They were charter members of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. Attending his grandchildren's activities and programs brought happiness to his life. Orvis is survived by his wife, Marietta, Moorhead; two sons, Larry, Moorhead, and Lee Dawn, Moorhead; four daughters, Lynne Jerry Hanten, Wildwood, MO, Lonnie Applegate, Cape Canaveral, FL, Lois Bruce Boelter, Fargo, and Lorie Chastain, Fargo; one brother, Lloyd Gunderson, Moorhead; eight grandchildren, Scott Hanten, Aaron Jefferson, Melissa Mazza, Lena Chastain, Chloe Gunderson, Matt Boelter, Molly Boelter, Lana Gunderson; two great grandchildren, Cameron Hanten and Mason Hanten. He was preceded in death by his parents, and one grandchild, Gabriel Applegate.Memorials may be given to Roger Maris Cancer Center or Hospice of the Red River Valley.