Bruce Meland

Bruce Clifford Meland, 72, passed away at his home with his wife by his side on December 16, 2009, in Mesa, AZ, after a courageous two-year battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 pm Monday, December 28, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Burial will be in Driscoll Cemetery. He was born in Bismarck, ND on December 7, 1937, the son of Nora and Clifford Meland. Bruce grew up in Driscoll and Bismarck, ND. He graduated from Bismarck High School, Bismarck State College, and received a BS degree from Valley City State. He received a MS in School Administration from the University of North Dakota and had further post-graduate work at the University of Oregon. He married Kay Etta Scharnowske on July 26, 1958 in Bismarck, ND. Bruce was well known in ND for his ability as an athlete and winning coach. While teaching and coaching in Makoti, ND, his team won the state Class C basketball championship. He taught and coached at Simle Junior High. He then became an instructor and coach at Bismarck State College BSC taking his basketball teams to three national tournaments in his 16 years as coach. He was named Regional Coach of the Year. He also coached golf and baseball at BSC. He coached the Bismarck Junior Legion baseball team to a state title and 2nd place in the Regionals. In his last five years in education, he was superintendent at Solen/Cannonball, ND. Highlights of Bruce’s coaching and teaching career were the numerous students and athletes that remained in contact with him through the years. He retired in 1991 when he and his wife of 51 years, Kay, started out in an RV to do some traveling and ended up in Mesa, AZ where they’ve lived for 18 years. For the last 30 years, they spent vacation time at their Lake Tschida home. Bruce loved baseball, golf, fishing and bridge. These he did well and was named to the ND Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, was a member of the Bowman Blue Sox amateur baseball championship team in 1959, had 4 holes-in-one and joined the ND Whopper Club last summer with a 10 lb., 31 in. walleye. He is survived by his wife, Kay, Mesa, AZ; sons, Timothy, daughter-in-law Gail, and grandchildren, Steven and Marie of Brookings, SD; Dr. Jeffrey, daughter-in-law Alicia, and grandchildren, Jackson and Thomas of Northfield, MN; and Thomas, daughter-in-law Bonnie, and grandson, Matthew of Minot, ND; sister Joan, husband Robert Innes of Gillette, WY, two aunts and many nieces, nephews and cousins. A special thank you to our extended family, Joan and Leland Skabo. He was preceded in death by his parents and niece, Paula Skabo Hartze. He was a much-loved and respected husband, father, grandfather and friend. His honesty, wisdom, and kindness were valued by all. Bruce will be deeply missed. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Hospice Inspiris, 2025 N. Third Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004.

Bruce Meland

December 7, 1937 - December 16, 2009