Nancy Louise Burkland (Lynch)

Nancy's Celebration of Life can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/694521235

View Nancy Burkland's Tribute Video Here: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/YCMQB68PHMNJWYQD

Nancy Louise Burkland (née Lynch), born in Fargo, North Dakota on October 14, 1940, passed on to her heavenly home on March 19, 2022. She married Darrell Burkland on August 27, 1960, to whom she was in love with for over 62 years as they celebrated their union each year.

Nancy graduated from Moorhead State University in 1961 and received her Master of Curriculum and Administration degree in 1968. She was a classroom teacher for two years in Lincoln Public Schools in Lincoln, Nebraska. She then worked for the Fargo Public Schools for forty years as a classroom teacher, special education teacher, special education consultant, and for twenty-five years as an elementary principal at Hawthorne Elementary School and Lincoln Elementary School. During her tenure with the Fargo Public Schools, she developed and was the director of the Gifted and Talented Program; she is so proud the program continues today. She was blessed to have wonderful students and teachers and she said she never worked a day for she loved being an educator. She served as president and editor of the North Dakota Elementary Principals Organization and on the board of Teacher Professional Practices Commission. She was a 1992 recipient of the prestigious national Milken Educator Award, the 1993 North Dakota Distinguished Principal, and the 2005 recipient of the Humanitarian Award from the Council for Exceptional Children. Nancy was also active in the Y Chapter of P.E.O. and cherished all of her P.E.O. sisters.

Despite all of her professional achievements, Nancy believed her true blessings were her two daughters and sons-in-law, Drs. Maria and John Balintona, and Melissa Burkland and Dr. Grant Syverson. She reveled in being a grandmother to Ana Balintona, Isaac Syverson, and Lauren Syverson. All three of her grandchildren brought joy and great happiness to her life.

She is survived by her husband Darrell, sister and brother-in-law, Joanne and Donald McGregor, sisters-in-law Margaret Lynch, Beth Lynch, and Carol Lorentz, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, David and Jennifer Burkland, and many nieces and nephews she all dearly loved. She was preceded in death by her brothers Dr. Clifford Lynch and Jonathan Lynch and sister Anneline Olson.

A celebration of Nancy’s well-lived life will be held on Saturday, April 2 at 11:00 a.m. at Olivet Lutheran Church. A welcome and greeting for all who attend will be one hour before the service. She requests memorials be given to the Fargo Public Schools Development Foundation, Churches United for the Homeless, Hospice, YWCA Cass Clay Emergency Shelter, or any charity of your choice.