Mr. Duane E. Hetland

May 12, 1934 - February 1, 2021

Duane Hetland, age 86, died peacefully at home on February 1, 2021. He was surrounded by his beloved wife, Joan, their four children Veronica, Richard, Rebecca and Scott, their son-in-law Frank, and loving caregivers Mariatu and Abdulai. When his time came, we have no doubt that Mother Mary and a host of Saints and Angels took his hand and ushered him into glory, for he was enveloped by the love and prayers of so many. Duane was born on May 12, 1934 in Bottineau, North Dakota. His mother Laura (Boettcher) and father Palmer drove to the midwife’s house from their family farm for Duane’s birth. A favorite picture is of a plump and hardy baby Duane sitting in his mother’s washtub with a big smile. The farm was a place of hard work, but it provided Duane with countless opportunities for fun and play. Duane attended a one-room schoolhouse for his elementary education, often riding his horse to school. His classmates included children of early homesteaders, many from Norway, Sweden and Germany. One of his fondest memories from that time was when he and his buddy found some baby garter snakes during recess and put them in their desks. They thought the teacher would be startled, but she simply told them to bring the critters back where they belonged. Most of Duane’s early life revolved around helping his parents and older brother, Lester, as well as their younger sister Margaret, with chores on the farm. It is difficult these days to imagine the challenges they faced, and Duane was sometimes reluctant to recount them. Yet he shared memories of his father’s deep involvement in the community, when Palmer found shelter and work for strangers coming in on the train at the grain elevator near the farm. Duane’s heart was full of memories of his dear mother, Laura. Her kindness, intelligence, determination and work ethic helped make Duane the man he was. She also passed on to him her deep Christian faith through her involvement in the Lutheran Church. Duane also recounted many wonderful memories of his siblings Lester and Margaret. In his later years he only grew in his love and respect for them. He looked forward to phoning them and it was clear he deeply missed them. Duane graduated from Souris High School in 1952, one of a small handful of seniors. He played basketball on the school team, and summer baseball over the border in Canada. He enjoyed socializing, hunting and fishing, and gathering with relatives. After high school he attended North Dakota School of Forestry for two years. He remembered that all students took two months off in the fall to bring in the harvest. He said he’d never worked harder in his life as he did with his family in the fields. When he was 21 Duane opted to move up his name in the U.S. draft lottery and got a call from the Army. His first big trip out of North Dakota was a bus ride to Fort Leonard Wood, MO for two months of basic training in the freezing rain. Next were twelve weeks of advanced basic training and heavy weapons training with recoilless rifles at Fort Ord at Monterey Bay, CA. He then flew to New Jersey and headed to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. After a sea-sick sail over choppy ocean waters to the large port of Bremerhaven, Germany, Duane and the other soldiers traveled by train to Munich. It was March 1955 that Duane became part of the Big Red 1 First Infantry Division, stationed at the massive Warner Kaserne Military Barracks for one week of training in the Munich woods. Though he was technically a supply clerk Quartermaster, he was part of a larger mission to defend the border of East and West Germany along with Russian and British troops. He was honorably discharged on July 6, 1956. While army life took Duane out of the country to a much wider world, he was happy to go back home to start a new life. Duane used the G.I. Bill to help finance his education at the University of North Dakota, where he graduated with a B.S. in Business in 1958. He was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and had the unique opportunity to live at the frat house for a while. Duane’s business career started shortly thereafter at Montgomery Ward, a company for which he would work his entire 38-year career. His first job was as a manager at the New Brighton, MN store when - who should walk in one day - but the woman who would become his wife, Joan Marie McCabe. Joan worked in one of the women’s departments and tried to tell her new manager, Duane, that she needed more help. He said no, but she left an impression on him. A few dates soon followed, with Duane admitting now that he was attracted to Joan’s looks, smarts and spirit. The fact that she had a nice convertible didn’t hurt. They had a lovely daytime wedding on June 14th, 1961. It was around this time that Joan helped Duane become a member of the Catholic Church, and his involvement over the years proved a great joy. Children soon followed, with Veronica, Richard, Rebecca and Scott all born within five years. Duane’s job with Montgomery Ward saw the family move many times, from Minnesota, to Michigan, to Chicago, to Connecticut, then back to Illinois. Duane worked a lot, yet he still found time to watch his kids play sports. Favorite memories include fishing trips in many states on many lakes. He continued the tradition with his son-in-law Dan, and many of his grandchildren. Duane was also determined through the years to spend private time with Joan, away from the kids. They traveled to Mexico, Hawaii and Europe, and took a gorgeous Viking River Cruise. They also had a ton of fun at the casinos, and their favorite was the Bellagio at Las Vegas. It would take a book to highlight Duane’s many business accomplishments. From starting in small stores in the mid-west, he soon moved to larger responsibilities as a district and area manager. This included the largest and most challenging stores in Chicago. As Montgomery Ward faced some of its later challenges in the 1980’s it was bought by Mobil Oil. The company requested Duane to work in Manhattan, New York. Joan once again packed up the family and found a nice home in Fairfield, CT. Duane took the train from there to Grand Central Station. He told of how he arrived in the big city, looked up at the skyscrapers, and couldn’t believe he was in such a place. The kids flourished in New England, especially when their Dad took them on trips to Boston and Maine. After five years the company moved Duane back to the Chicago area. Fortunately, Joan had taken up a real estate career at that point, using the expertise gained through all the moves. They found a beautiful house in the suburb of Barrington, but just as they settled the company faced further challenges. By the early 1990’s they were sent to the small state of New Hampshire. It seemed initially to be a consolation prize, but it turned out to be a great move. They loved living in their Bedford home, and Duane found a used boat to dock at Lake Winnipesaukee. By then there were grandchildren, and Duane entertained everyone with fun boat rides for several years. Upon retiring from Montgomery Ward in 1995, Duane and Joan moved to a perfect spot in Palm Coast, Florida overlooking a little lake and close to the Atlantic Ocean and Intercoastal Waterway. They lived there for 23 years. Their children and grandchildren loved visiting them and vacation at the beach, and many have memories of Grandpa Duane smiling, laughing and fishing, and giving them wonderful kisses and hugs. As the years progressed Duane and Joan needed help, so they moved near their daughter, Veronica and her husband, Frank, to an independent living community in Alpharetta, Georgia. Veronica was able to care for them nearly every day with Frank’s help, and they will always treasure those times. Though these last two years were tough for them, Duane remained resolute and determined to assist his dear wife, Joan. All who loved him will miss Duane. He leaves a legacy of humility, empathy, devotion, honor, kindness, humor, intelligence, self-sacrifice and strength. He was a good man and the rock of his family. Rest in Peace our Dear Husband and Father! Duane is survived by his wife, Joan Marie (McCabe), his children: daughter Veronica (Frank Buckman); son Richard (Christine Quercia); daughter Rebecca (Dan Pettigrew); and son Scott (Kerrin Sudrovich). He is also survived by his brother, Lester Hetland (Valerie) and sister Margaret Barovich (Earl Gus), and many loving nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. Duane leaves fifteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren: Of the children of Veronica and Frank Buckman, Duane leaves: Laura (Buckman) and Andy Godoshian, and sons Kepler and Declan; Melissa (Buckman) and Ryan Alverson; Frank Jr and Ryan (Coyle) Buckman; and Kelly Buckman. Of the children of Richard and Christine Hetland, Duane leaves: Dane and Alyssa (McIntyre) and son Leif; Paige Hetland and daughter Everly; and Carlie Hetland. Of the children of Rebecca and Dan Pettigrew, Duane leaves: Olivia; Eva; Becket; Ivy; and Quinn. Of the children of Scott and Kerrin Hetland, Duane leaves: Aubrey; Jack; and Crosby. A Funeral Mass with Military Honors will be held for Duane on Thursday, February 4 at 9:45 am at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Alpharetta, GA. A Celebratory Mass and Interment Service will be held in the future at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Palm Coast, FL. In lieu of flowers, Duane would have appreciated donations to Mary’s Place, 2905 Castlegate Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15226 (www.marysplacepgh.org) or to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home Auxiliary at PO Box 420273, Atlanta, GA 30342 (olphauxiliary.org). Please enclose a note letting them know who the donation is from, that it is in the memory of Duane, and provide Veronica Buckman’s address at 7205 Cordery Road, Cumming GA, 30040