Gordon Knute McDougall

Gordon Knute McDougall, 94, formerly of Hawley, MN, died on Sunday, January 27, 2013, in Sanford Health's Palliative Care Unit, Fargo, ND. Gordon moved from Hawley to Moorhead in 1997 to be closer to his wife, Mary Ann, who was a resident at Eventide Senior Living Community.

Gordon McDougall was born on March 2, 1918, in Keene Township outside of Ulen, MN, to Ernest and Ida (Holt) McDougall. Following his father's untimely death when Gordon was 2, his family moved to Hawley where he attended and graduated from Hawley High School. After high school Gordon worked for Johnson Brother's Grocery Stores in both Hawley and Twin Valley. He was drafted into WWII and was deployed for 42 months in Paris, France and Reykjavík, Iceland. After his honorable discharge from the Army, Gordon married the love of his life, Mary Ann Dyrdahl on June 23, 1946.

He was a finish carpenter by trade and worked many years for Meinecke-Johnson, Fargo, until his retirement in 1980. Not one to be idle for long, Gordon took a position doing store remodeling at JC Penneys, West Acres. His second retirement from Penneys was in 1994. Gordon will be remembered for his quick wit, his outstanding apple pies, and having a story for everything. He always took time to visit with residents and staff at Eventide. But most importantly he will be remembered for his never failing devotion to Mary Ann during her almost 11 years at Eventide. He will be missed by all whose lives he touched.

Gordon is survived by daughters, Beth McDougall of Grand Forks, ND, and Bonnie (Brad) Hurner of Moorhead, MN; granddaughters, Rachel and Heather Hurner, both of Moorhead; Chinese daughter, Eva (Tate) Tsang of Lexington, KY; and sister, Lillian (Will) Ryther of Park Rapids, MN.

He was preceded in death by his wife of over 61 years, Mary Ann; his parents; and siblings, Mildred Johnson, Verle McDougall, Earl McDougall, and Lowell McDougall.