Duane Thomas Burchill, Sr. was born March 25, 1947 in Valley City, North Dakota the son of Ronald and Evelyn (Ostreim) Burchill. He attended and graduated Pillsbury High School. Following high school, he farmed with his father on the original Burchill homestead.
He married Gayle Lemley on October 11, 1968 in Pillsbury and together they raised four sons: Duane (Jolene), Darren (Pamela), Douglas (Jolynn), and Dustin (Sarah).
Duane served in the Army National Guard in Valley City in the 141st Engineer Battalion Headquarters Company from 1967 to 1973 where he earned top marksmanship honors. He was an avid trap shooter winning several regional and state awards and was an active member of the Valley City and Jamestown Trap Clubs.
He loved to sing and could be heard most Sunday mornings raising hymns of praise at Baldwin Presbyterian Church in Pillsbury, ND where he was a lifelong member. Most Sunday afternoons he could be heard cheering on his favorite football team – the Green Bay Packers.
Duane died May 2, 2021. He is survived by his wife Gayle, his four sons, his 10 grandchildren: Cassidy, Preston, Ella, Gabi, Grace, Carter, Ronald, Samantha, Annie &Grant, and 4 great-grandchildren: Kason, Reagan, Kennedy, & Lincoln. Also surviving are two sisters, Janet (Sam) Vangsness & Linda (Larry) Bishop, and a step-mother, Jeanne Diemert.
He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister Marlys Burchill.
A Celebration of Life Service for Duane will be 10:30 am Thursday, May 6, 2021 at Baldwin Presbyterian Church, Pillsbury. Visitation will be 6-7 pm Wednesday, May 5, at Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City, with a prayer service at 7 pm. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel. An online guestbook is available at www.oliver-nathanchapel.com