Marlan Hvinden

Marlan Leroy Hvinden was born May 29, 1939, at Maddock, ND to Solveig (Sogge) and Oscar Hvinden. He passed away May 15, 2025, at Valley Senior Living on Columbia, Grand Forks with wife Nancy holding his hand. He began school in a rural one-room school with his best friend as his only classmate. He graduated from Benson County Agricultural and Training School, Maddock, in 1957. He worked in the newspaper and printing businesses from 1957-1970 when he enrolled at the University of North Dakota. He wrote for the Dakota Student and worked at Gerrells Sports to earn his way through college.

In Norwegian class he met his future wife, Nancy E. Borgeson. They married in 1972 and lived in UND married student Tinhuts from 1972-1974 when he received his BA in Journalism.

They moved to Garrison, ND where he was sports editor, later editor of the McLean County Independent. Their children, Brian and Angela, were born and raised in Garrison. The family grew to include son-in-law Ben Blais, then grandchildren Landon, Jordon and Madison Blais. The most spoiled of all, grandcat Muncie became a furry delight when he joined the Blais family.

Marlan received many state awards from the ND Press Association in reporting and photography and a national award for investigative reporting. In 1979 he and three partners started DAKOTA COUNTRY magazine, later selling it.

In 1976 he was one of the organizers of the first North Dakota Governor’s Walleye Cup fishing derby. He later was an organizer and promoter of the North Dakota Fishing Hall of Fame in Garrison. In 1991 he was inducted as an honoree. In Garrison he served on the school board, St. Paul Church Council, Webelos Scout leader, taught Hunter Safety, was active in sportsman’s clubs and school boosters. He used his journalism skills to edit and publish newsletters for various state and McLean County historical groups, including the Fort Stevenson Society. He was instrumental in developing Sportsmen Centennial Park in McLean County.

Marlan switched careers in 1981, first serving as McLean County Land Use Administrator, then McLean County Auditor, a position he was reelected to until retiring in 2005. He served as President of the State County Auditor’s Association in 1989. Fairness and being nonpartisan in dealing with the electorate was something he strived for. He served all, and he did it with integrity.

Marlan had numerous hobbies and interests, hunting and fishing, ND and WWII history, sports, geology, woodworking, and life at their lake cabin. In 1998 a wish came true for Marlan and Nancy when they bought a family cabin on Lake Tulaby in Minnesota. Build it and they will come was their motto. Just as Marlan first fished with his grandfather Hvinden at age 3 along the Sheyenne River, Marlan taught all three grandkids to fish and proudly helped them catch their first fish at the lake.

Family life and helping family was topmost in Marlan’s heart, whether being there for his siblings, helping his parents, being a husband that was always faithful or providing a safe and good upbringing for his own children, he never failed.

Retirement gave him the time to be a full-time grandpa, and to work on writing projects that he had set on the backburner for years. He and Nancy traveled across the country researching books that they would write. Between trips when the kids were young, and trips in retirement, they managed to visit all 50 states but Alaska. Health issues the past several years got in the way of that last trip.

Hvinden Publications became a reality. Along with wife Nancy, he wrote and self-published six books. He enjoyed speaking at libraries and to senior groups about the books they wrote. When not writing, he enjoyed sharing stories of his life.

Marlan is survived by wife Nancy E. Hvinden, son Brian Hvinden, daughter and son-in-law Angela and Ben Blais, grandchildren Landon, Jordon and Madison, and mother-in-law Beulah Borgeson. Siblings Gerald Hvinden, Larry (Ginny) Hvinden, Ardyce (Byron) Ellingson, Robert (Joann) Hvinden, Dan Hvinden and David (Denise) Hvinden. He was preceded in death by his and Nancy’s unborn child, his parents, brother Douglas Hvinden, sister-in-law Nancy K. Hvinden and father-in-law Ernest Borgeson.

Family led funeral service at Trinity Free Lutheran Church, Grand Forks, ND on Wednesday May 21, 2025 at 2pm, Rev. Dan Antal officiating. Visitation at 1pm at the church. A celebration of life memorial service will be held at Viking Church, rural Maddock, ND at a later date. Internment at East Walle Lutheran Cemetery, rural Thompson, ND.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the Marlan L. Hvinden Scholarship endowment which they have established at the University of North Dakota in his memory.