Alvin “Bruce” Haaland, age 79, of Lynden, went home to his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, June 16, 2015.
Born on Dec. 9, 1935, in Cooperstown, North Dakota, to Alf and Bernice (Johnson) Haaland, he grew up in Sverdrup Township and attended school in a one-room schoolhouse. Following his father’s death, Bruce quit school at age 16 and moved to Minneapolis to work and support his mother and younger brother, Ray.
In 1956, Bruce joined the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in Southern California as a flight mechanic until being honorably discharged in 1962. Bruce had a 40-year career in the natural gas industry, working 10 years for Southern California Gas Company and retiring from Cascade Natural Gas in 1998.
Bruce had a passion for classic and muscle cars. He took great pride in a 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator which he and his son, Alan, restored and won many awards for in the U.S. and Canada. While in California, he loved racing cars and in his later years enjoyed watching car races and the Seattle Seahawks on TV.
In June 1980, Bruce married Sandra Hicks. His only son, Alan, was his greatest joy.
Survivors include his loving wife, Sandy; his son, Alan (Sheri) Haaland of Overland Park, Kansas; step-children Rhoda (Ben) Nelson of Blaine and Tom Dawson of California; brother Raymond (Eloise) Haaland of Fargo, North Dakota; brothers-in-law James Hicks of Bellingham, Dale Hicks of Lynden and Marion Brooks of Bellingham; and numerous cousins and step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents; sister Marlene Leenstra; father and mother-in-law Jim and Ollie Hicks; and sisters-in-law Voleene Brooks and Aletha Hart.
Visitation hours are scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, from 5 to 8 p.m. in Gillies Funeral Home. Graveside services will be conducted on Thursday, June 25, at 1 p.m. at Lakeside Cemetery followed by a 2:30 p.m. memorial service in North County Christ the King Church, 1816 18th St., Lynden.
Memorials in memory of Bruce are suggested to Lynden Christian Schools or the Lynden Community Center. You are invited to share your memories and condolences in the online guest book at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
