Don Offerdahl

Don Offerdahl, 65, Bismarck formerly of Minot, died following a courageous battle with cancer, on January 21, 2020. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 106 Osage Ave, Bismarck. Burial will be held at 3:00 p.m. at the ND Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck. A prayer service will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Don was born on February 27, 1954 in Northwood, ND, to Chester and Olive (Ovrid) Offerdahl. He grew up on the family farm between Northwood/Hatton and attended country school near Northwood. After the country school closed, he went to Northwood School and graduated in 1972. Following graduation, Don joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam era. He earned many awards in the military and was honorably discharged in July 1974. Following his service, Don attended NDSCS in Wahpeton where he got an associate degree in Electrical Technology. He also met Pat Jenrich in Wahpeton and on July 22, 1976 the two married in Minot.

After completion of the JATC apprenticeship program, Don worked as a journeyman electrician  through the IBEW. He later obtained his Master’s electrician’s license. He worked for various places, but mostly with Main Electric and Holmes Electric before becoming a state electrical inspector in 1984 until 1996. In 1996, Don became the Executive Director of the State Electrical Board in Bismarck and served in this capacity until his retirement in 2011. Following retirement, Don started his own electrical business with his son, D’s Electric INC, working as much and as hard as he could. He also worked part-time for Intertek as a field evaluator.

Don was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.  He also volunteered on numerous boards and committees, he sat on the Board of Directors at the Bismarck YMCA, also founding member of the Bismarck Y’s Men Club and was a member of the Minot Y’s Men Club in Minot, member of the Optimist Club, Toastmaster Club, Minot Swim Club, his passion was the entire Electrical Industry, serving as vice-president of IBEW Local 714, along with teaching apprentice and journeyman wireman classes, being active on numerous UL standard technical panels and had served on NFPA Electrical Section Board of Directors, Don also served on various NEC code making committees throughout years. In 2015 Don became the 87^th IAEI International President, a very prestigious honor in the industry.

He loved to ride motorcycle, hosting neighborhood block parties and spending time at his lake cabin at Strawberry Lake with his family, friends and grandkids.

He is survived by his wife, Pat; son, Dustin (Brittany) and their children, Rielle and Deklen, Minot; daughter, Kim Mead and her children, Adrian and Logan, Bismarck; and son, Mike (Stacy) and their child, Laikyn; step-mother, Lou Offerdahl, Buffalo, MN; brother, Larry (Lynn), Champlin, MN; sister, Julie (Jeremy) Waschek, Buffalo, MN; sister-in-law, Kathy, Moorhead, MN;  and many in-laws, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Chester and Olive; and brothers, Danny and Jack Offerdahl.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Triangle Y Camp, a project that has always been near and dear to his heart.