George "Ted" Koland

George Theodore Koland, age 81, a resident of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota passed away on Thursday April 18th at Emmanuel in Detroit Lakes surrounded by his family under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.Big Ted was born on November 30, 1931 in Stephen, Minnesota, the son of Torkel and Inga (Kittleson) Koland. He attended school in Stephen, Minnesota from kindergarten through high school. After graduation from high school, Ted enlisted in the Army as a member of the Field Artillery. He served for three years during the Korean War, but remained "Top Secret" in the US in order to train new recruits on the 155MM Long Tom artillery. After he was "Honorably" discharged from the Army, Ted enrolled in the Engineering program at the University of North Dakota. During his freshman year, he married Delores Halvorson on December 28, 1954. In addition to his studies and raising a family, Ted was the Center for the UND Sioux Basketball team. He attended school there for over three years, but needed to quit school to provide for his growing family.The family relocated to Moorhead Minnesota in the early 60s where he formed Koland Construction and raised his family of three daughters and one son. Ted dubbed the Koland Construction moniker "If it has a nail in it, we can build it". He remodeled the family cabin on Lake Lizzie into a year around home and relocated the family there in the summer of 1971. He also was a Superintendent for Apollo Construction of Fargo, ND and Steve Hait Construction of Sioux Falls, SD. In addition to construction, Ted enjoyed hunting, boating, cooking and socializing. He is survived by his wife Delores, daughters: Teddi (Stan) Zierke, Debbi (Peter) Restad all of Pelican Rapids and son Keith (Heidi) Koland of Maple Grove, MN. Six Grandchildren: Tyler (Tracy), Jordan, Casey, Sarah (Tony), Parker & Kellen, three Great-Grandchildren: Chase, Lauryn, and Mckynlie, his brother Jack (Izzy) Koland, Lake Park, sisters: Eunice Plunkett, Fargo, Mary Hanson, Goodyear, AZ, Judy (Tom) Pinkerton, Roseau, sister-in-law, Bonnie Jean (Ken) Boe, Alexandria, MN; extended family Barb (Vic) VanEnk of High River, Alberta, and numerous nieces and nephews.Ted was preceded in death by his daughter Bonnie Rae, Great Grand Daughter Gracie Ann Zierke and brothers and sisters: Tom, Don, Mickey & Norma.Visitation: Monday April 22, 2013, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Larson Funeral Home, Pelican Rapids, MN. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at Trinity Lutheran Church.Service: 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota.Funeral Home:Larson Funeral Home304 3rd Street S.E.Pelican Rapids, MNUS 56572