He met Lois (McIntyre) Young on the musical stage in Riverside Park while performing Cavalleria Rusticana . They both had extraordinarily beautiful singing voices. They often sang at funerals and weddings as well as in church choirs at United Lutheran and University Lutheran. They were married March 9, 1957 in Grand Forks at United Lutheran Church. They raised five children; Jane, Alan, Larry, Tom and Dana. Lois died in 1988 of cancer. He married Millie Everson in 1989. He had many fond memories of spending time with her and her family.
Rol’s aptitude and interest in designing mechanical equipment was most life-changing when he invented the Panellift® drywall lift which led him to establish his manufacturing business- Telpro, Inc. Throughout his work life, even in his last weeks, he always thought, “There’s got to be a better way…” This was the driving force behind his earthly endeavors such as drywall tools, Red River basin water retention efforts and bridges between North Dakota and Minnesota. He designed many inventions, over a dozen of which have patents.
Roland will forever be lovingly remembered by his children who benefited from their dad’s mechanically creative brain and engineering, construction and welding abilities. He purchased and remodeled a 1948 school bus into a camper that produced hundreds of hours of fun adventures for his family. He was tolerant of a number of family pets, even a crow, for which he designed and constructed a cage “hotel” in their backyard! Rol made every effort to see that his kids had opportunities to learn while having fun building something-from constructing a 20’ high tree house to building a toboggan slide that rivaled the one in Lincoln park!
In 2018 Dad designed a new Desk Angle Adjustment Mechanism for my Music Stands.
Dutch Pullout Dining Table in Walnut, March 2018
In the summer of 2018 my nephew-Curran Gause was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Air Force. He previously served four years in the US Navy so I made this
He always had a Twinkle in his Eye. As though he knew the end of the story and was just waiting for you.
My Dear Dad-Roland Young, died on December 16, 2018.
Roland, child of God, maker in metal, guardian of martins, helper of monarchs, solver of sudoku puzzles, and advocate of bridges, reached his final “plateau” and now rests in his Savior's arms.
Roland's true legacy was his faith and trust in Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord, a faith which was the foundation not only of all his diligent work in this life, but of all his hope in the life to come. By God's grace, in word and action, he taught his family what a humble, faithful, firm-to-the-end Christian life looks like.
Roland Oliver Young, age 90, died Sunday, December 16, 2018 at home in Grand Forks, ND under the care of Altru Hospice. He was surrounded by his loving family.
Roland was born October 12, 1928 in Anoka, Minnesota to Herbert and Alta (Volkenant) Young. He was the youngest of four siblings. He graduated from Grand Forks Central High School in 1946.
Rol’s first place of employment to put his German “work ethic” to use was the Goodman Farm Electric Company in Grand Forks as a sophomore in high school. His brother, Frank, who was also employed there, was influential in getting him hired to repair, prepare and spray paint rebuilt generators. In 1947, Roland and his two brothers, Dick and Frank, purchased a machine and welding shop in Grand Forks and established Young Brothers Manufacturing. The Korean War put their creative and industrious work on hold as Rol joined the 231st Engineer Combat Battalion of the North Dakota National Guard in 1950. As a machinist, he was assigned to the 765th Transportation Railway Shop Battalion in Pusan. In 1952 when he returned from the service, having attained the rank of Sergeant 1st Class, he took a position as a machinist at the US Bureau of Mines Lignite Research Laboratory (currently the EERC- Energy & Environmental Research Center). His design and engineering work there was acknowledged with many awards.
Shortly before my father passed away I took a stroll through the Shop on his property. The shop was built in 1973 when our family moved from Grand Forks to undeveloped acreage just north of the old McIntyre farmstead.
I am so grateful that in the last 18 months of his life Dad was able to help me on two of my most recent projects-An Art Deco Music Cabinet with a soldered brass grill and a new music stand design.
In October I delivered a Sheet Music Cabinet to my dear friend from college-Galen Mack. Galen has commissioned 5 pieces from me over the past few years- This is Sheet Music Cabinet no 9 "Maria"
Roland Young, a couple of days after his 90th birthday October 12, 2018.
Dad's many labor saving devices include
The PANELLIFT Drywall Lift
DRILLRITE OVERHEAD CONCRETE DRILLPRESS.
TELE-TOWER WORK PLATFORMS
The new design was incorporated in these two music stands completed in June 2018.
We spent a great day together in Dad's shop when he soldered this Brass Grill for an Art Deco Bookcase
