Everett Sondreal

Everett Sondreal passed away at the age of 90, on February 15, 2026 at his home in McAllen Texas.

Everett was preceded in death by his parents, Ole and Florence Sondreal of Grand Forks ND. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Grace, brother Wesley (wife Leona) of Southampton Pennsylvania, his two sons, Philip Sondreal (wife Ellen) of Fargo ND, Mark Sondreal (wife Tracy) of Minneapolis MN, Sister-in-Law and Honorary daughter Joy of New Braunfels TX, five grandchildren, Eric (Kristen) , Beth (Eric), Katie, Molly (Nick) Sophia (Matt) and six great grandchildren.

Everett served in the Airforce from 1952 to 1954 attaining the rank of Captain. He attended the university of North Dakota, earning a BS and master’s in chemical engineering. He later earned a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Everett was a world authority on clean coal technology and spent the majority of his 60 year career working as the principal research scientist at the Grand Forks Energy Technology Center, serving as its director during the period that the facility was transferred from federal to state control and renamed the Energy and Environmental Research Center. Everett traveled abroad extensively during his career. In this capacity he met scores of people from all over the world, many of whom visited the US and were entertained by Everett and Grace. Extending generosity and hospitality to visitors was a role at which they excelled.

Everett found great joy in music and played clarinet in multiple bands in Grand Forks ND, Bemidji MN and McAllen TX. He spent summers at the family lake cabin in Bemidji Minnesota and on the farm in Reynolds ND and wintered in McAllen Texas. He loved to spend time out in the boat fishing and on land trying to get grass to grow where it was not meant to grow. He was truly a renaissance man. He possessed tremendous intellectual capabilities and loved a meaningful discussion. He seemed to have the capacity to tackle nearly any project.

Everett’s greatest love was his wife Grace. He exemplified what love is meant to look like through the adoration he showed toward her. He considered her his greatest gift in life.

Everett was a man of great principal who always strove to do the right thing. When he failed in this regard he was always quick to apologize and to try to make things right. He was a man of faith that firmly believed in Gods grace and mercy though he readily admitted that he did not have all of the answers. In his words, “he chose to believe”.

Everett was a truly good man and will be remembered as such by his family and his many friends.

A Celebration of Life service will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2026 with Visitation at 10:00 am and service at 11:00 am at Zion United Methodist Church, 1001 24th Avenue South, Grand Forks North Dakota

Memorials are suggested to Northlands Rescue Mission (northlandsrescuemission.org), or Global Friends Coalition (gfcoalition.org)