Roland’s Obituary Funeral service for Roland Peter Sigurdson 88 year old Thomas, OK resident will be held on Thursday at 3:00 P.M. in the Bethany Brethren in Christ Church at Thomas, Ok with Past James Rainwater officiating, under the direction of Lockstone Funeral Home of Thomas. Burial will be held on Thursday May 23 at 2:00 P.M. Phoenix Memorial Park in Phoenix, AZ. Roland went home to our Father in Heaven on May 13, 2019 at Clinton Regional Hospital with his family by his side.
Roland was born on February 23, 1931 on an 1800-acre farm in Coleharbor, ND to Peter and Sophie Sigurdson. Roland grew up with his two sisters, Millie and Ardis, and helped his Dad on the family farm. He attended school in Underwood, during which time he played basketball, football, and ran track for the Underwood Comets, and graduated from Underwood High School in 1948.
During high school, Roland met a sweet and beautiful cheerleader from Garrison, ND, Alyce Washburn, who was immediately the love of his life. Following graduation, Roland worked part time on the Garrison dam construction until he joined in partnership with his father in farming in 1951. While Roland was building his farming career, he dated Alyce, who attended school at Minot Teaching College, and they sealed their love with marriage on November 19, 1954.
When his father passed away, Roland took over full operation of the farm in 1957 devoting a lot of his attention to his animals; sheep, cows, and horses. In March 1968, he was featured in the North Dakota Rural Electric Magazine for his successful early lamb crop of purebred Suffolk and Columbia sheep using electric brooding. Roland also farmed the land harvesting wheat, barley, flax and corn on the family farm and on the island on Mallard Lake.
Roland and Alyce had 4 children; David (1964), Michael (1966), Lisa (1969), and Karla (1974). All 4 children were born in North Dakota. Having grown up in the Underwood community, Roland had many deep and lasting friendships.
Roland enjoyed spending time with his family and his friends, dancing, snowmobiling, playing billiards, riding horses, and showing livestock. In 1976, Roland sold the family farm and moved to Bismarck, ND, where he raised quarter horses and worked in real estate. Roland and his family moved multiple times in subsequent years between Underwood, ND; Taloga, OK; Phoenix, AZ; and Weatherford, OK.
Roland had several jobs within these states training horses and working in the oil industry, but while residing in Weatherford, Roland obtained his CDL license and began working for JB Hunt in Oklahoma City. In 1994, Roland and Alyce moved to Phoenix, AZ. Roland continued to work as a truck driver for JB Hunt and then for McKelvey Trucking Company.
They lived in a nice little retirement community and made many friends in the area. They also enjoyed spending time with their daughters, who also lived in Arizona, and enjoyed multiple visits from their sons, David (Michigan) and Mike (Texas). In 2001, Roland won a $100,000 lottery and was able to buy a new home for their retirement, but after nearly 48 years of marriage, Alyce was diagnosed with cancer and went home to the Lord only 2 months later in September 2002.
The happy and newly comfortable life they had secured was sadly changed with the loss of Alyce. Roland’s children continued to surround him during his time of grief, and he eventually was able to keep busy again with truck driving and working on things around his home until 2007 when his son, Mike, went home to the Lord after a short 6-month battle with cancer. The loss of Mike was very hard on Roland.
Subsequently, Roland began to require more medical intervention with a knee replacement and a pacemaker, and had to retire from truck driving at the age of 80. By 2015, it was time for Roland to make another move to be closer to his daughter, Lisa, who could help him and check on him frequently. Roland bought a small home in Thomas, OK.
During his time there, Roland enjoyed visiting with people in the community, attending services and events at Bethany Church, participating in the Thomas Fun Run, attending rodeos, and welcoming visits from family members. Roland lived in Thomas independently until recently. Roland had an amazing sense of humor and a never-ending enthusiasm for working hard.
Roland loved his family and always made it a priority to provide for his wife and children. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather. Roland also loved to serve the Lord and his church family, as he served as a deacon at Underwood Lutheran Church.
Roland was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Sophie Sigurdson; his wife, Alyce Washburn Sigurdson; his son, Michael Sigurdson; and his sisters, Ardis Bull and Millie Schafenacker. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, David and Martha Sigurdson; his daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Monty Cravens; his daughter and son-in-law, Karla and Greg Bregen; and his grandchildren, Derek Sigurdson and Aly Bregen. He was survived by two daughters, Lisa Cravens and her husband Monty of Thomas, Ok and Karla.
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