Orville Eidem

Orville M. Eidem, Jr., longtime director of bands at N.D.S.U., died peacefully early Thursday morning with his wife, Gen, at his side. Orv was born in Grand Forks, ND on Sept. 13, 1931 to Orville and Olga (Carlson) Eidem. At a very early age he developed a passion for playing brass instruments. Under the challenging direction of Leo Haesle at Grand Forks Central, he was motivated to become the best he could be. He graduated from Central High School in 1949 and UND in 1953 with a B.A. in Music Education. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955, spending those years playing in Post bands and developing his skills as a writer and arranger of music for big bands. This skill would serve him well throughout his career. While a junior at UND, Orv met Genevieve Wild (on a blind date) and two years later, on June 7, 1954, they were married in Milton, ND. After his stint with army bands, he returned to this area, teaching music in Erskine and East Grand Forks, MN. He attended summer sessions at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, where he earned a M.A. in Music Education in 1960. In 1970 Orv joined the music faculty at NDSU as Director of Bands. For the next 23 years he conducted the Gold Star Concert and Marching Bands, founded the jazz program, taught music theory, low brass methods, music education classes and hundreds of private students. Orv performed in numerous musical groups in the F/M area and was a charter member of the Jazz Arts Big Band. He taught several summers at International Music Camp and adjudicated, soloed and guest conducted throughout the tri-state area. Orv was a member of the College Band Directors National Association, a life member of the International Trombone Association, International Association of Jazz Educators, the American School Band Directors Association and served as district governor of Kappa Kappa Psi, an honorary music fraternity. In 1994 Orv was awarded the citation of Excellence Award by the National Band Association and in 1996 was entered into the North Dakota Music Educators Hall of Fame. Orv was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He is survived by his wife, Gen; daughter, Barbara (Jeff) Carlson, Coon Rapids, MN; three sons, Steven (Penny) Eidem, Greeley, CO, Bruce (Christine) Eidem, Ossining, NY, Daniel (Amy) Eidem, Nashville, TN, and five grandchildren, Dan and Ruby Carlson, Ben, Tim and Justin Eidem, and sister, Joanne Otteson, St. Helena, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents. Visitation will be held Tuesday evening, October 19, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, ND. Memorial service will be held Wednesday, October 20, 2010, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Fargo. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The Orv Eidem Gold Star Band Endowment Fund at North Dakota State University Development Foundation, 1241 North University Drive, Fargo, ND, 58102.