GUNKELMAN, Lloyd

Lloyd Lockhart Gunkelman, 88, died October 10, 2002, in Scottsdale, AZ. Born in Fargo, ND, on September 10, 1914, Lloyd was the oldest of nine children in the Ralph Frank and Ada Mary (Lockhart) Gunkelman family. He attended Fargo Public Schools, graduating from Fargo Central High School in 1932. He then attended the North Dakota Agricultural College (now NDSU) where he studied agricultural engineering and milling. In 1934 he transferred to the University of Minnesota where he studied business and U.S. and European milling. While he attended college he worked in grain elevators and for his father's seed and grain company (Interstate Seed and Grain Co., Fargo). Lloyd initiated his 40 years in the grain and seed business as a floor trader for the Atwood Larson Co. of Minneapolis. In 1936 he moved to Duluth, MN, where he managed the grain commission department for the William Dalrymple Co., a branch of the bonanza farms in the Casselton, ND, area. When, in 1942, the Dalrymple Company was purchased by Hallet & Carey Co., Lloyd bought and sold grain for them worldwide. In 1945 Lloyd joined the International Milling Company, managing flour mills in Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. He organized and became the first president of the Grain Exchange in Davenport, IA. In addition to teaching milling courses, he worked with research, and International Milling introduced several specialty foods and puffing cereals. In 1952 Lloyd returned to Fargo to join his father and brothers in the expanding R.F. Gunkelman and Sons agribusiness. Lloyd's father had sold his interest in Interstate Seed and Grain Co. and started R.F. Gunkelman and Sons in 1945. The company was based in Fargo and had grain elevators in Fargo, Grandin, Gardner, Grafton, Hillsboro and Fergus Falls. Lloyd served as vice president from 1952 until the company was discontinued in 1970. This business became a model in the agricultural industry for innovative health food products,especially those using sunflower and soybean seeds. Lloyd and his three brothers, John, Paul and R.F. Jr. "Tod," working closely with NDSU research personnel, pioneered the growing of sunflowers in North and South Dakota and western Minnesota. It also was one of the major suppliers of wild bird seed and was a primary contractor and processor of sunflowers, as well as an initial supplier of human foods derived from sunflowers in the USA. By 1970 R.F. Gunkelman and Sons was one of the companies that promoted and contracted over 100,000 acres of oil seed and almost 39,000 acres of confection sunflower seed with North Dakota farmers. By 1981 this acreage had grown to several million acres. During these sunflower expansion years, Lloyd developed over 100 items for the health food trade from crops grown in the Dakotas and Minnesota. In 1972 Lloyd moved to Phoenix, AZ, where he established Gunkelman Enterprises and served as its president. In 1975 he set up Green Gables Nut Farm, and later he served as a consultant to Clifford Wold as he initiated a popcorn and sunflower business known as "Wold's." The company's popcorn and nut products were sold in all of the major supermarkets throughout Arizona. Lloyd was a member of the Fargo Chamber of Commerce (vice president, director and chairman of the transportation division); Sales Executives International; Fargo Kiwanis Club (president); Duluth Board of Trade; Minneapolis Grain Exchange; Davenport (IA) Grain Exchange (president); Ponca City (OK) Grain Exchange (president) and the Sioux City (IA) Grain Exchange. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Fargo (trustee); Valley Presbyterian Church (Paradise Valley, AZ); Fargo Elks Lodge; Fargo-Moorhead YMCA; and the Masonic Bodies (Shiloh Lodge, Scottish Rite, El Zagal Shrine Temple). An avid golfer, Lloyd was a member of the Fargo Country Club; Desert Forest Golf Club (Carefree, AZ, board of directors); Arizona Country Club (Phoenix); and Mountain Shadows Golf Club (Paradise Valley, AZ). Lloyd's hobby was woodworking. He designed and built bird feeders, cars, planes, toys and doll houses for many children during his lifetime. The Valley Presbyterian Church benefited every year from the many toys and doll houses that Lloyd donated to its annual holiday bazaar. His wooden toys were among the most popular items each year. Lloyd married Josephine "Jo" LaJoie of Minneapolis on May 25, 1940. They had two children: Judith (Del) Lamphere of St. Cloud, MN, and Mary (Leo) Wadekamper of Helena, MT. Jo passed away on Dec. 7, 1982. On April 2, 1983, Lloyd married Mildred "Mim" Hansen of Scottsdale, AZ (formerly St. Paul, MN). Lloyd also leaves 2 stepchildren, Philip (Ann) Hansen, Chaska, MN, Carolyn Sato, Cave Creek, AZ; 3 grandchildren, Christopher T. Bucholz of Phoenix, AZ, Becky (Bucholz) Vorderbruggen of Perham, MN, Jeff Wadekamper of Helena, MT; and 4 stepgrandchildren, Maki Sato of Hermosa Beach, CA, Kai Sato of Carpinteria, CA, Geoff Hansen of Minneapolis, MN, and Greg Hansen of New York City, NY. He also leaves one great-grandson, Logan Vorderbruggen of Perham, MN. Lloyd leaves 3 brothers and 2 sisters, R.F. "Tod" (Dolores) Gunkelman, and Paul (Inez) Gunkelman of Fargo, Tom Gunkelman of Minneapolis, MN, Alice Farlow, Boynton Beach, FL, Dorothy (Wayne) Gustafson, Detroit Lakes, MN, and Naples, FL. He was preceded in death by his sister, Elizabeth M. Gunkelman; brothers, Robert W. Gunkelman, John L. Gunkelman Sr.; and his parents, Ralph F. and Ada L. Gunkelman. A private memorial service celebrating Lloyd's life was held in Scottsdale, AZ. The family preferred memorials to be sent to Children's Ministry, c/o Valley Presbyterian Church, 6947 East McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253, or c/o Mim Gunkelman, 7776 East Via Sonrisa, Scottsdale, AZ 85258.