Duane Everett Traynor

Duane E. Traynor of Bismarck passed away at the age 77 on March 21, 2012, after a battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24, at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Bismarck. Bishop Robert Lynne and Pastor Donna Dohrman will be officiating. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 22, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Duane was born in Rolette on June 4, 1934, to Aloysius and Ruth Olson Traynor. He attended Scotch Block Country School near Wolford, ND where his father farmed. His father passed away when Duane was 10 years old. His mother moved the family off the farm and into Rolette, where she was a nurse at the hospital. He had an older brother, Phillip and a younger sister, Clarice. Duane graduated Valedictorian of his class in 1952 from Rolette High School. He played clarinet in the band, basketball and football during his high school years. After High school, Duane went to one semester at Jamestown College and one semester at Concordia using up his scholarship money. Then he enlisted in the Army. He was to be deployed to Korea but found out the day they were to leave that the war had ended. He was stationed in Fort Hood Texas from 1953-55. Duane was honorably discharged. He went on to complete his studies at North Dakota Agriculture College, now known as North Dakota State University. He graduated on March 5, 1959 with a Civil Engineering degree. Duane turned down a career offer with Boeing and decided to stay in his beloved North Dakota to work for Westgate Inc. from 1959 to 1974 in Bismarck. In 1974, he and partners started their own pool building company called Associated Pool Builders, Inc. His company built pools from Alaska to Nebraska. He retired in 2002. During his college years, Duane was dating Vernice Gilje, also from Rolette. They were married on October 13, 1957. They had three children: Randy, Deb and Ken. Duane and Vernice began a tradition of taking their annual weeklong vacation at Long Lake, near Detroit Lakes, MN. This tradition has continued on at the same time, same place for almost 50 years. Their children plan to continue this tradition. Duane served on the board of trustees at the YMCA, was a long time member of the Elks Club and a proud alumni and supporter of NDSU. Duane and a good friend developed some property on Fox Island south of Bismarck. He and Vernice built a house there in 1976. He loved living down by the river amongst the tall cottonwood trees. He became disgruntled when the red squirrels would come to chew the branches off…but that's another story. Vernice passed away in 1994 after a battle with leukemia. Duane reunited with his high school sweetheart, Shirley Grenier Scott, a few years later. They have enjoyed many winters in Indio California at a retirement community on a golf course. Duane didn't enjoy golfing like Shirley does, but there was a casino right down the road. When in Bismarck they got together regularly with friends and family. He liked going to the Hostfest where he could eat his leutefisk and listen to Charlie Pride. Duane was proud to have lived to see the Bison football team win a national championship last fall. Duane is survived by his sister, Clarice Satrom of Grandin, ND; his children, Randy Shelley Traynor, Ken Molly Traynor of Bismarck and Deb Jeff Pflipsen of Plymouth, MN; grandchildren; Cassie Davy Sjostrom, Missy and Kaela Traynor; Cory, Molly and Casey Pflipsen; and Marin, Keelin and Nora Traynor. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Lutheran Church of the Cross, Elks Camp Grassick, or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Duane Everett Traynor

June 4, 1934 - March 21, 2012