Daniel Pullen

Daniel Harvey Pullen passed away unexpectedly due to natural causes on Monday, February 13, while snorkeling with friends off the coast of Belize. Dan was born Oct. 5, 1949, to Harvey and Agnes Pullen. He spent his childhood in Franklin, MN. He attended St. Judes Seminary in Kankekee, IL, from 8th grade through his junior year, and then moved to Fargo where he graduated from Fargo Shanley in 1968. Dan graduated from Moorhead State College in 1972 with a degree in mass communications. At the time of his passing, he was close to finishing a doctoral dissertation, and was scheduled to receive an EdD degree in Institutional Analysis from NDSU in May. Arguably, the most important thing in Dan’s life was his family. He married Debra Crosby on June 24, 1978, and he was absolutely joyous when their children Alex and Hayley were born. Among the many activities he enjoyed sharing with family – and also with his friends – were canoeing, kayaking, sailing, and attending Redhawks games. There were also things he enjoyed doing alone. Last winter, for example, he cross-country skied 91 days in a row. Dan often set challenging goals for himself. Determined to canoe the entire length of the Red River, Dan began his “Do Not Hasten” tour at Wahpeton in 2001. Over the ensuing years, he paddled every leg of the river, each time with a different rowing partner and completed the journey to Lake Winnipeg in 2008. Dan had a deep respect for nature, and he was a dedicated steward of the Red. He belonged to River Keepers, serving as Vice President and as a member of the Executive Board. Dan had interests that were more introspective and creative, as well. These included writing, photography, listening to and playing music, and singing in his church choir. As a videographer, he directed and created several documentaries. Dan also maintained a continued dedication to philosophy and theology. Besides being a member of the Moorhead 1st Congregational, he was a licensed lay worship leader for the ND Conference of the UCC. Dan’s personal values were reflected in his working life, as well. After college, he became the director of the Television Production Center at Moorhead State College. This was followed by a four-year stint as the manager of the audio-visual department at St. Luke's/Meritcare. Dan then became involved in the development of SENDIT, a K-12 electronic bulletin board system that evolved into a statewide information technology and professional development service agency (EduTech). Dan was the first director of Center for Innovation in Instruction in 1993, and co-director of the North Dakota Teaching with Technology initiative. He served as Director of the ND Educational Technology Council since 2001. Dan was preceded in death by parents and by his younger brother, Paul. Surviving him are his wife, Debra, of Fargo, his son and daughter-in-law Alexander and Stephanie Pullen and grandson, Mateo, of Jacksonville, FL, his daughter Hayley Pullen, of London, his sisters Maxine Gehbauer, Mary (Matt) Mannis, and Carol (Cal) Pierce, and his brother Sam (PJ) Pullen, as well as many nieces and nephews, and their children. Funeral Service: 2:00PM, Monday, February 20, 2012 at First Congregational Church, Moorhead, MN. Visitation: 3:00-5:00PM, Sunday, February 19, 2012 at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, ND, followed by a Prayer Service at 5:00 PM.