Gail A. Ulland

Gail was born in Sisseton, South Dakota on April Fool's Day, much to her later chagrin, as she couldn't sneak by selectively not counting a few birthdays here or there. Gail was memorable as a style maven of every era, impeccably pressed, dressed and full of energy. She was the fourth in a family of five beautiful and talented daughters, who looked forward to their rowdy Hanson sister reunions in their retirement years.

She had a long and interesting life, living her first 40+ years primarily in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where during World War II, she worked at the Aberdeen American News as a staff reporter and writer. She married Morris V. Engelstad while in college and moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota until shortly after Morrie's untimely death in 1959. Gail's circle of lifelong friends in Aberdeen sustained her as a young widow and single mother while she raised her two children, Dana and Debra. She sent them both to college and instilled a sense of independence, accomplishment and meeting life's challenges head-on that serves them well.

Gail married Kenneth J. Ulland in 1975 and they retired to Denver, Colorado. They enjoyed their time there with outings to the opera, art museums, and taking road trips throughout the West and Canada. Special highlights in these years included going to the dude ranch in Estes Park with their grandchildren in the summer, flying off on the Concorde to London or Paris and enriching trips to Russia, Scandinavia, Morocco, Alaska and Barbados.

Gail was an active member of her Lutheran churches in Aberdeen, Denver and Salt Lake City, and of P.E.O., an international sisterhood that promotes educational opportunities for women. She was an exceptional role model living her strength-in-adversity, style and grace well throughout her life.

Gail moved to Salt Lake City in 2007 to be closer to her daughter and after a diagnosis of Alzheimer's, spent her final four years at Sunrise Senior Living in Holladay. The family wishes to thank all the staff at Sunrise and Solstice Hospice for the exceptional loving care they shared with the entire family these past few years.

Gail is survived by her son Dana Engelstad (Mima Kay), daughter Debra Elstad (Mark), grandsons Blake Wigdahl (Rachel Kelly) and Matthew Wigdahl (Jane), great-granddaughters Chloe and Heidi Wigdahl, and her sister Marian Milburn (Neal) along with many nieces and nephews she cherished.

A celebration of her life will be held June 11th at 11:00am at Mount Tabor Lutheran Church, 175 South 700 East, Salt Lake City. Interment will be in Aberdeen later this year.