Obituary

Leland Willis Bruchhof was born September 10, 1934 to Alvin and Nita (Scharn) Bruchhof in Clark County, South Dakota. Lee graduated from Watertown S.D. High School in 1952. He attended MN State University Mankato, Hobart School of Welding, and Lincoln Electric Welding School in Ohio, earning his BA degree.

After returning to SD, Lee married Geraldine Knodel on March 22, 1953. He worked for Dakota Welding Co. until 1966, when he accepted a welding instructor position at Southwest Technical College in Canby, MN, where he taught until 1981. He then transferred to Northwest Technical College in Moorhead, MN, teaching until his retirement in 1995, after 29 years of teaching welding to hundreds of students.

In 1990, Lee was chosen as College Teacher of the Year. He was a member of the National Education Association, Minnesota Education Association, and Moorhead Education Association. He served as the American Welding Society Chairman, was on the board of directors for a development corporation, and as captain of the Canby MN Auxiliary Police.

After his retirement, Lee and Gerri spent several winters in Mesa, Arizona. In 1988, they bought the farm Lee was born on in Clark Co., SD, that was once owned by his grandfather and gather. In 1999, they built a house on that farm and lived there until 2005, when they moved back to Fargo, ND, so he could help a former student start a new business.

Lee is survived by his wife of 68 years, Gerri; two sons, Greg (Carol) of Brainerd, MN, and Bryan (Lynn) of Sioux Falls, SD; one daughter, Jodie (Guy) Brittain of Glendale, AZ.; one sister Melva (Jerry) Denholm of Omaha, NE; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Richard and Leonard and two sisters, Marge Pinnow and Joyce Conway.

In keeping with his wishes, there will be no public services.

The family is planning a private celebration of life at a later date. The family is being served by the Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home of Fargo, ND.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.hansonrunsvold.com