Dr. Duane Berglund

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Dr. Duane R Berglund died at the age of 83 on July 20, 2025 with his wife at his side at Edgewood Health, Fargo, ND.

Duane was born May 6, 1942, in New Rockford, ND, of Gladys (Ystaas) and Raymond Berglund. He grew up on a farm 6 miles east of Sheyenne, ND, and was his dad’s “right-hand” man. He was an active member of the “Bushwackers” 4-H Club, showing livestock, and graduated from Sheyenne High School in 1960 where he was active in every sport. Following graduation from North Dakota State University (NDSU) in 1964 with a degree in Agricultural Education, Duane became a vocational agriculture instructor at McClusky High School, McClusky, ND, where he also helped coach football, drove bus and served as high school principal.

He met his future wife, Patricia (Pat) Taylor Berglund during his junior year at NDSU. They married on June 19, 1965 at Holy Spirit Church, Fargo and recently celebrated 60 years of marriage. Family and Faith were very important to Duane. He was brought up by an amazing father and became an exceptional father himself. Duane and Pat raised three sons, Jeff, Jon, and Paul. He coached his son’s baseball and soccer teams.

Continuing his education at NDSU, Duane completed his M.S. and PhD degrees in Plant Science. From 1971-1977, he was an Assistant Professor and Chairman of the Agricultural Production Division at the University of Minnesota-Waseca. Duane was very active in the Waseca Jaycees and in 1977 was named one of the Top Ten Minnesotans by the Jaycees.

In 1978, Duane joined the faculty of NDSU Plant Science Department as Extension Agronomist and Associate Professor. He was later promoted to Professor. Duane retired in 2007 as Professor Emeritus. In his Extension role he took scientific information and research results and developed these into bulletins/practical information for agricultural producers. He traveled the state of North Dakota presenting crop production information to farmers and agricultural groups. He also promoted No-Till farming in the US, Canada and Australia.

In 1983 Duane assumed the position of Associate Director, Agricultural and Natural Resources with administrative responsibility for all statewide agricultural extension programs, Community Rural Development, Pesticide Applicator Training and Integrated Pest Management Programs. In late 1989 he returned to the Plant Science Department and continued his work with sunflower, soybean, dry edible beans, corn, canola, pulse crops and alternative crops, general crop production plus weed control in all ND crops.

Duane helped start the ND Soybean Growers Association and worked closely throughout his career with the ND Crop Improvement and Seed Association, the ND Ag Association, the Northarvest Dry Bean Growers, the National Sunflower Association, the Northern Canola Growers, the ManDak Zero Till Association, the North Dakota Winter Crops Show and the Northern Crops Institute.

Duane was a Knight of Columbus member at Nativity Church, Cub Scout Leader, Co-Chair for a Nativity expansion fundraising project, a Confirmation Instructor and Lay Eucharistic Minister. He served on the Silent Lakes, Bluemont Lakes and Broken Arrow HOA Boards of Directors.

In retirement, Duane and Pat lived at their lake home on West Silent Lake, Dent, MN, in the summers and in Sun City West, AZ, during the winter.

In recent years, Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) took Duane’s ability to speak and reason. The family is grateful to Edgewood Health Memory Care where he lived for his last 9 months and to Hospice in Action (HIA) for all their professional and loving care to Duane and Pat.

Survivors include: his wife, Dr. Pat Berglund; children Dr. Jeff Berglund (Dr. Monica Brown), Jon Berglund (Nicole), Paul Berglund, J.D. (Nikki): grandchildren; Dr. Isabella Berglund-Brown (Cameron Schmitz), Brooke Berglund (Eric Brubacher), Juliana Berglund-Brown (Noah Hirsch-Rechter), Zach Berglund (Rachel Parent), Kayne Berglund; and great-grandson, Theo Berglund-Schmitz. He is also survived by his siblings: Roger (Sue) Berglund, Bowman, ND; Myron (Donna) Berglund, Franklin, TN; and Doreen Kleinsasser, Albuquerque, NM, and countless cousins. Duane was preceded in death by parents Gladys and Raymond Berglund.

Memorials can be made to the Drs. Duane and Patricia Berglund Graduate Student Scholarship at the NDSU Foundation, to Hearts In Action (HIA) Hospice, or to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD).