Orville was born in Perry, N.D., on Easter Sunday, March 27, 1921. He was the second of four children born to Christian and Mathilda Nundahl, and they lived in a house Christian built on a farm about 1½ miles north of Rutland, N.D. Orville's father, Christian, managed elevators and their family moved several times, living in Ransom N.D., Jamestown, N.D., and Cayuga, N.D., before settling in Oakes in 1931, when Orville was 10 years old. Orville attended the Oakes Public School and joined the U.S. Army in October 1940. During his five years in service, Orville was stationed at Fort Francis E. Warren in Wyoming, Fort Lewis in Washington, Camp Carson in Colorado, and in New Port News, Va. He was a member of the 188th Field Artillery Regiment and then the 98th Field Artillery Battalion, which was converted to the 6th Ranger Battalion, and they led the invasion of the Philippines. Orville was honored with the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal, American Defense Service Medal, a World War II Victory Medal, a Combat Infantry Badge, two Bronze Stars, and was honorably discharged in September 1945. Orville married Betty Borden of Hecla on June 5, 1946. They made their home in Oakes, and were blessed with six children. Orville was very handy with machinery and worked as a mechanic for several years. He also tried some farming, and lastly worked for Shafer Seed Company for 28 years, retiring in 1986. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and was very proud of his service for his country.
Orville is survived by his wife of 66 years, Betty; their six children: LaRita Johnson, Debra (Brian) Benoy, Victoria (Chuck) Colombo, Kim Nundahl, Timothy (Veronica) Nundahl and Tammy Gemar; eight grandchildren: Tara Szurek, Ryan Gallagher, Laura Gustafson, Kevin and Andy Gemar, Myka Ness, Hannah and Christian Nundahl; three great-granddaughters: Destiny and Samantha Anderson and Abigail Johnson; two great-grandsons: Elliott and Liam Gustafson; and one great-great-granddaughter, Jazmin Montes; his sister, Gladys Kluever; a sister-in-law, Grace Albrecht; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Terry Lee; his parents, Christian and Tillie Nundahl; a sister, Inez; a brother, Kenneth; six brothers-in-law; two sisters-in-law; and two sons-in-law.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012, from 5 to 7 p.m., with a prayer service starting at 7 p.m. at Dahlstrom Funeral Home, Oakes. His funeral will be Monday, Dec. 3, 2012, at 11 a.m. at Dahlstrom Funeral Home, Oakes, with burial to follow at the Oakes View Cemetery near Oakes.
An online guestbook may be signed at dahlstromfuneralhome.com.