Remembering Earl Ulland

Earl V. Ulland, retired electrician with Plant Services, died Sunday, May 9, at Valley Eldercare, Grand Forks. He suffered in recent years from Parkinson’s disease and dementia.  He was 83.

Earl Vernon Ulland was born on June 28, 1926 in Traill County near Buxton, N.D., the son of Martin and Sophie (Johnson) Ulland. He grew up there and attended Wold Township #2 for grades 1-8 and graduated from Mayville High School in 1943.

On December 13, 1944, he was inducted into the Army Air Forces and began his 17-week basic training at Camp Hood, Texas. He served in the Philippines and took part in the Luzon Campaign and later the Japanese Occupation. He served overseas for 16 months, earning the rank of sergeant.

He attended Mayville State for a year before transferring to the Wahpeton State School of Science where he graduated with an electrical trade degree in 1949.

On August 20, 1950, he married Gladys Anderson at Vaage Lutheran Church in Brocket, N.D.

During his career, Earl worked for Traill County Electric in Mayville, Incin Electric in Portland, N.D., Crystal Sugar in Crookston, Minn., Peavey Flour Mill in Grand Forks, Grand Forks Public Schools and was a supervisor electrician for UND Plant Services from 1974 until his retirement in 1991.

Earl was a lifetime member of the Grand Forks VFW Post 1874 and the East Grand Forks American Legion Post #157. He was actively involved in the VFW Post 1874 color Guard. He enjoyed following the Twins, Vikings and Sioux sports. He also enjoyed playing golf.

Earl is survived by his wife, Gladys; sons, Robert and Rodney, both of Grand Forks and a sister, Maxine Lillie of Long Beach, Calif. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Howard, Curtis, Maynard and Lloyd and by a sister, Dorothy.

Military honors will be provided by the North Dakota Army National Guard, The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign wars.