Leann Gunderson

With one last, God-given breath on August 15, 2026, at Duke Hock Hospice Center, Leann Yvonne Gunderson, 86, of Durham, North Carolina, passed peacefully into the eternal presence of her Lord and Savior - Jesus Christ…” Absent from the body and present with the Lord.” 2 Cor. 5:8.

Leann was born on August 12, 1940, to Edmond V. and Dora E. Littlefield in Amber, Oklahoma - the eldest of their seven children.When she was very young, they moved to a farm in rural Cyril, Oklahoma. She spoke of picking cotton with her dad, and attending the yearly, very large, Littlefield Family reunions. Her family was very important to her. Leann attended both grade school and high school in Cyril. Every Sunday, she attended the First Baptist Church with her parents and siblings. From an early age she heard and read the Bible - at home, and church.

During her childhood years, she decided to put her faith and trust in Jesus Christ. At about the age of thirteen, Leann wrote how that decision was of primary importance in her life, and that she had decided to make it her life-long commitment.

On February 14th, 1958, Leann was united in marriage to an “army guy” - Orville C. Gunderson, who she met at the local roller rink in Fletcher, Oklahoma. During their 34 years of marriage, they were blessed with four children to love. After a few years on a farm in rural Grandin, North Dakota, the family moved to Hendrum, Minnesota. Leann was a homemaker, and participated in truck driving, combining, and other farm-related jobs, until her children were old enough to do those things.

Leann enjoyed many traveling adventures with her family, throughout the U.S. - especially to the national parks. She loved the museums, and learning about all of God’s creation. One most memorable trip was in June 1979 when the whole family traveled for an entire month to Florida, took a ship cruise to the Bahamas, and then traveled north along the coast to Washington D.C., before returning home.

Leann loved spending time with her children and was actively involved in their lives throughout their school years - attending their activities - especially music related events and taking them to library video nights. She had a passion for reading - especially historical information, which she loved to share with others…She read many books to her young children, including the Bible. She encouraged, and inspired them to know Jesus, personally, and to continue to grow in the Truth through in-depth Bible study, which she also did. All throughout the day you could hear Christian radio playing in her home, and car. She listened to Bible teachers, favorite hymns, bluegrass and classical music, and more. She even recorded the latest recipes from radio programs, and often sent them to her family - grandchildren, included. Other areas of talent and enjoyment included: flower and vegetable gardening; drawing and painting, crafts, taking piano lessons, shopping, and sewing - dresses and doll clothes for her young girls, and beautiful garments for herself.

Just prior to retirement, Leann moved to Fargo, North Dakota, where she worked part time for various businesses. She also completed several years of schooling in the art major program at Moorhead State University. Several of her watercolor drawings were displayed at local area art shows.

In her retirement years, Leann moved back to the family farm in rural Cyril, where she resided from October 2004 - March 2022. She enjoyed visiting with family and friends, attending

family reunions, and the constant companionship of her pets - various dogs and cats. She loved the view “up on the hill.”

Little children were a delight to Leann. Sadly, she is the last remaining grandmother and great-grandmother, in the Littlefield and Gunderson families, to her 10 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. She loved them very much.

Leann’s children moved her to Durham, North Carolina in April of 2022, where she lived with her daughter and family until the last few months of her earthly life - 1 John 5:11-13

Leann is survived by her 3 children - Kimberly (Marvin) Faul, ND; Velvet (Gary) Sunderland, NC; and Gregg Gunderson, ND; 10 grandchildren - Jesse (Hope) Faul; Matthew (Madeline) Faul; Trevor Faul; Serena Sunderland; Connor Sunderland; Taryn (Allen) Clark; Morgan (Garrett) Ford; Quinn (Elliana) Sunderland; and Noah Gunderson; 13 great-grandchildren; 4 sisters, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; son, Brian Gunderson; daughter-in-law, Mary Gunderson; Grandson, Luke Gunderson; brother, Edmond, Jr.; and many other family members and friends.

A Celebration of Life service was held on September 25th, 2026, at the First Baptist Church in Cyril, Oklahoma. Interment was in the Fletcher Cemetery.