Gordon McFarland

Gordon L. McFarland, 80, Bismarck, passed away January 3, 2018, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck. A funeral service will be held at 11:30 am Monday, January 8, 2018, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 3rd St. and Ave A, Bismarck, with Rev. Paul Schick officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Sunday, January 7, 2018, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm Monday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Gordon was born August 8, 1937, in Grafton, ND, the son of James and Gladys (Hoeper) McFarland. He was raised and educated in Grafton, where he graduated in 1955. After graduation, he enrolled in Moler Barber College in Fargo, ND.   He also served in the U.S. Army where he was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas and Germany. In 1960, he returned to Grafton where he owned and operated McFarland's Barber and Beauty Shop. On June 14, 1962, he married June Dufault in Argyle, MN. The couple was blessed with two children, Tamra Dawn and Jay Allen.     In 1971, they moved to Bismarck where Gordon was a sales representative for Lutheran Brotherhood Life Insurance Co. and Sons of Norway. During his time with Lutheran Brotherhood, he earned many Leadership award trips, which he was able to share with his family. In retirement, he worked for Hertz Rental Car and loved to drive vehicles around the state for them. Gordon served on the Board of Directors for Oak Grove Lutheran School, Fargo, and also was an instructor with a local underwriters group in Bismarck. He was especially proud of his many years of service as an usher at Trinity Lutheran Church. Gordon is survived by his wife, June, Bismarck; daughter, Tamra (Scott) Volkert, Bismarck, and son, Jay McFarland, also of Bismarck.   He is also survived by his brothers, Jim (Kaye) McFarland, Naples, FL, and Arlynn (Helen) McFarland, Warwick, ND; his sisters, Darlene Jackson, Crookston, MN, Ardith (Gary) DeMers, Grand Forks, ND, and Inez (Robert) Hager, Greenbush, MN; and a brother-in-law, Ted Hanson, Strandquist, MN. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews. Gordon was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Curtis McFarland; sister, Lois Hanson; and brother-in-law, Gerald Jackson.