Gerald Haugland

Gerald “Butch” Myron

Haugland (known only as

Gerald by his mother) of

Ambrose, ND, passed

away after a battle with

cancer on May 22, 2022.

Butch was born on June

10, 1952 to Goodwin and

Marlys (Molander) Haug-

land of Crosby, ND, and

was raised on the family

farm alongside his si-

blings, Greg, Mark, Kent,

and Joan. Early on he had

a love for cattle, horses

and sports and was a

fierce competitor on the

court and field. Butch

graduated from Divide

County High School in

1970 and attended Willis-

ton State College and then

graduated from North

Dakota State University

with a master’s degree in

Agricultural Education.

Butch taught Ag Ed in

Kenmare where he met

his wife, Diane Erickson,

who he married on June

12, 1976. They moved

back to his hometown and

farmed and ranched near

Ambrose, ND. It was

there that they grew their

family to six, raising four

children, Drew, Grant,

Amber and Paige. Butch

taught Ag Ed and was the

FFA advisor at Divide

County High School until

his retirement and was al-

ways there to encourage,

challenge, push and

sometimes get after stu-

dents who he saw poten-

tial in. He helped many

students gain skills rang-

ing from welding to pub-

lic speaking that would

pave the way for them to

achieve success in their

future careers. Butch

loved FFA and was a

strong believer in learning

by doing, including taking

students on educational

trips to such places as

Washington, DC, Russia,

New York City, Puerto

Rico, Louisville, Indianap-

olis, Kansas City and so

many more. He loved to

travel and was a fun tour

guide. His influence in

the classroom was felt by

hundreds of students over

the years. Butch had a

passion for cattle and he

and his family grew the

“Blooming Prairie Sim-

mental” ranch over the

years, raising Simmental

and Angus cattle. In

1986, Butch pursued his

longtime dream of becom-

ing an auctioneer, as he

and Diane started their

family business,

“Haugland’s Action Auc-

tion.” Butch loved auc-

tions and his “auction

family” was very special

to him. He also felt it was

a privilege to help those

in need, conducting bene-

fit auctions for those with

health challenges or

groups who could use

fundraising help. He was

passionate about helping

kids, so he would never

say “no” to an auction that

would benefit the youth.

Butch loved auctioneer-

ing, buying cattle, attend-

ing rodeos including the

National Finals Rodeo an-

nually, attending sporting

events with his family,

and anything revolving

around his grandkids. He

was always in the stands

at his kids’ and grandkids’

events. As a dad and

grandpa, he instilled the

values of hard work,

respect, integrity and the

value of a handshake. He

was a cowboy who meant

what he said and said

what he meant. He will

be missed by so many

who he impacted.

Butch is survived by Di-

ane, his wife of nearly 46

years, his sons Drew,

Grant and his wife Sheila

and daughter Greenlee,

daughters Amber and her

son Ryder, Paige and her

husband Brian Uran and

sons Ledger and Lawson,

his father Goodwin, si-

blings Greg, Mark, Kent,

Joan and their families.

He was preceded in death

by his mother, Marlys,

nephew Justin Haugland,

mother-in-law Juanita Er-

ickson, brother-in-law

Bradley Erickson.

The funeral service for

Butch Haugland will be

held Saturday, May 28th

at 11 am at Divide County

High School. Burial will

follow at Concordia Luth-

eran Cemetery in Crosby..

in lieu of flowers, Butch

requested memorials be

sent to St. Jude’s Children

Research Hospital to aid

in children’s cancer

research. Stakston-Martin

Funeral Home of Crosby

is in charge of arrange-

ments.