Glen Earl Brandvold

Glen Earl Brandvold, 93

Glen was born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on October 16, 1931, to Verla (Elder) & Joseph Brandvold. He married Phyllis (Stengel) on December 24, 1950, and was married to the love of his life until she died after 55 years. They had two sons, William & James (deceased) & three grandchildren, Tristesse, Shane & Tyrell. Glen had three deceased siblings: Marion, Allis, & John. Even though years separated them, he was always involved in their lives & families.



He was a devoted father & educated adventurer. Glen & Phyllis lived in Livermore, where he began his career with Sandia & got his Ph.D. in Physics, then spent the next many years in Albuquerque. They were world travelers on several continents, both for work & pleasure. He found relatives in Norway & visited them. On a trip to China, he purchased a life-size carved jade warrior statue from the carver who spent 2 years carving it, then shipped it to him in Albuquerque. It scared me half to death when getting up at night & seeing it in the hallway in the dark.



He was such a kind soul, going out of his way to fix any problems that he encountered with his extended family. Uncle Glen enabled me (niece Barbara) to get the family homestead at 1015 Lakeside, which his sister (my mom, Allis) said he'd never sell!



Glen loved to fly and built two planes with his son Jim, who, with their wife Phyllis, became his copilots. He owned a hot air balloon (Gypsy), built over 26 El Toro sailboats, and donated them to kids in Boy Scouts who wanted to learn to sail. He owned, sailed, and raced many sized sailboats from San Francisco Bay to Lake Coeur d'Alene. He loved being on the water, camping with the family, and just being outside. His parents met on Tubbs Hill, so he came by it honestly. He loved riding motorcycles & blowing stuff up, including the roof off the porch! In later years, he thought nothing of bicycling miles up to Athol, Priest Lake, & Farragut, where he delivered the Press in junior high by bike every day! He played piano & rebuilt several, including player pianos. He had hundreds of rolls for them. In 2021, he wrote his autobiography, "A Life Well Lived".



I remember him as being so kind. Whether it was helping siblings, making house repairs, or fixing cars, nothing was beyond his help or concern. His great nephew, James, remembers him as "the best man I ever knew or will know."



Although he wasn't religious, he certainly lived the "Love your neighbor" creed. He will be so missed. I think of John 14:2: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid." Amen.