Theodore F. (Ted) Lund

Theodore F. (Ted) Lund, 92, a prominent longtime Whitefish resident, died Wednesday morning (Oct. 14) at his home. Ted was born at Eden Valley Township, Sherwood, N.D., on August 20, 1917, to Theodore A. and Katherine A. (Bade) Lund, the youngest of nine children. He received his grade school education at Eden Valley school and was a 1934 graduate of Sherwood High School. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Following high school graduation, he worked with his parents on their farm. In 1936, he became employed as a recreational leader in Sherwood under the Works Progress Administration as well as supervising the National Youth Administration employees for three years.

In the fall of 1939, he enrolled in the Forestry Department of the North Dakota School of Horticulture; upon his graduation in 1942, he was honored as outstanding graduate of his department.

Following college graduation, he was employed in greenhouses in Elgin, Ill., for a period of time before moving to San Bruno, Calif., where he worked for the E.W. McLellan Company, specializing in the raising of gardenias. In January of 1943, he was inducted into the United States Army, serving in the European Theater of Operations. He returned to the states in April of 1946, receiving an honorable discharge at the rank of Master Sergeant. He later served in the United States Army Reserve and was discharged at the rank of First Sergeant following 20 years of service, receiving the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service.

He worked in Great Falls during the years of 1946 and 1947 where he met his future wife Connie. In October of 1947, Ted, along with his sister and brother-in-law established Whitefish Floral. On Nov. 9, 1951, he and Constance (Connie) Lund were married in Great Falls. Ted and Connie owned and operated Whitefish Floral for many years until retiring in 1978 and selling the business to Connie's brother and sister-in-law, Dick and Kay Lund.

An involved citizen of Whitefish, Ted served in numerous community activities. He served as a director of the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, a life member and past-commander of VFW Post 276, a 60-year member of American Legion Post 108 and a life member of the Military Order of the Cooties. Ted served on committees of the Whitefish Credit Union for more than 30 years as well as being a member of Christ Lutheran Church and serving as a trustee on the church council. Ted was an ardent fan of Whitefish High School sports and was honored by the Bulldogs as "Fan of the Year." In January, Whitefish High School placed him in the school's Hall of Fame. Ted was given a life membership in the Montana State Florists Association in recognition of many years of service given to the organization as past-president and as chair of the state's FTD and Telefloral units. Ted and Connie chaired state florists conventions in the Flathead Valley and were named Florists of the Year by the Northwest Florists Association, representing Montana as a director of the association from 1975 to 1978; he also chaired the florist information council for the American Society of Florists.

An activity Ted particularly enjoyed and was involved in for a considerable number of years was the Whitefish Christmas Street Decoration committee. He also had been active in the Whitefish Winter Carnival for many years and was the last active member of the original Penguin Group. He was named King ULLR IV of the carnival and he and his wife Connie were awarded the High ULLR Award for their numerous contributions to the carnival.

The Whitefish Jaycees named him "Boss of the Year" in 1963 and in 1973, the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce named him Outstanding Citizen and, in 2005, was again named as Citizen of the Year. He served as a member and past-chair of the board of Mountain View Manor as well as a board member of Flathead Crimestoppers. He also had been a longtime member of the Whitefish Moose Lodge and the Whitefish Kiwanis.

Preceding him in death was his wife of 48 years, Connie, in June of 1999; also preceding him were 2 brothers and 6 sisters. Ted loved life, family and friends and the beauty of the flowers he grew; his Christian life and his country were also very important to him. Surviving him are many nieces and nephews, his two sisters-in-law, Gloria Austin and Kay Lund, and all his many many friends.

Funeral services were held Monday at Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish; rite of interment with military honors followed at Whitefish Cemetery. Visitation was at the Austin Funeral Home on Sunday.