Odell Leo Bratland
CHANHASSEN, MN - Odell Leo Bratland, age 95, of Chanhassen, and formerly of Spring Grove, MN, passed away on Sept. 19, 2023, at St. Francis Regional Hospital in Shakopee, MN.
He was born on Oct. 22, 1927, in Wilmington Twp., rural Spring Grove to Albert and Hannah (Solberg) Bratland. He was a Spring Grove High School graduate, and served in the United States Navy.
He attended the Dunwoody Industrial Institute and graduated in Auto Mechanics and was employed by the Evenson Bros Chrysler-Plymouth Dealership Spring Grove. In 1953, he moved to Minneapolis where he worked for the Pentel Auto as an auto mechanic. On Feb. 20, 1954, Odell married Margie Esch. He was employed by the Dunwoody Industrial Institute where he taught Auto Mechanics. He joined their International Services Division in 1965 and went with the Dunwoody team of instructors to Sudan Africa as advisers to their government setting up a Senior Trade School in Khartoum under the help of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). His wife Margie accompanied him to Khartoum, Sudan. He returned to the United States in 1967 and was employed by the Chrysler Corp. as a Service Representative. In 1971, he went with Dunwoody Industrial Institute with their team for two years under the World Bank as an adviser to the Korean Ministry of Education. Odell and his wife returned to the U.S. and he was employed by the Hennepin County Technical School in Eden Prairie, MN. as an instructor in Auto Mechanics. In January 1975 he was employed by the Arabian American Oil Company in Saudi Arabia where he worked in the Training Department as Assistant Superintendent in the Job Skills area.
Odell retired from Saudi Aramco in 1985 to their condo on Singer Island, FL, where for ten years he volunteered under AARP for seniors. He also prepared a volunteer program for the Area Agency on Aging, doing minor repairs for seniors in their homes. In his leisure time he enjoyed golfing. He was a member of the American Legion, the VFW and the Elks Club. In 2013, he and his wife returned to Minnesota. Odell loved Minnesota, proud to be Norwegian, and especially his home town of Spring Grove. He will be missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his brother and sisters-in-law: Kenneth (Gladys), Burnell (Louella), Roland (Ann), Glenn (Elvina), Vernon (Pauleen); and sister and brother-in-law, Harriet and Oberlin Newgaard; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held Monday, Sept. 25, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove. Pastor Elizabeth Hermeier will officiate. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, with military rites provided by American Legion Post #249 of Spring Grove. Friends may call on Monday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until time of service.
In his memory donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Spring Grove or St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Eden Prairie, MN.
Roble Funeral of Spring Grove is assisting the family with arrangements.