Everett Sondreal

Everett Sondreal passed away at the age of 90, on February 15, 2026, at his home in McAllen, Texas. Everett was preceded in death by his parents: Ole and Florence Sondreal of Grand Forks, ND. He is survived by his wife of 64 years: Grace; brother: Wesley (Lenora) of Southampton, Pennsylvania; his two sons: Philip Sondreal (Ellen) of Fargo, ND, Mark Sondreal (Tracy) of Minneapolis, MN; sister-in-law and Honorary daughter, Joy of New Braunfels, TX; five grandchildren: Eric (Kristen), Beth (Eric), Katie, Molly (Nick), Sophia (Matt) and six great-grandchildren. Everett attended the university of North Dakota earing a BS and master’s in chemical engineering later earing a PhD from the University of Michigan. Everett was a world authority on clean coal technology and spent the majority of his 60-year career working as the principal research scientist for the Grand Forks Energy Technology Center. There he served as the director during a period that the facility was transferred from federal to state control and renamed the Energy and Environmental Research Center. Everett traveled abroad extensively during his career. In this capacity he met scores of people from around the world, many of whom visited the US and were entertained by Everett and Grace. Extending generosity and hospitality was a role at which they excelled. Everett found great joy in music and played the clarinet in multiple bands in Grand Forks, ND, Bemidji, MN and McAllen, TX. He spent summers at the family lake cabin in Bemidji Minnesota and on the farm in Reynolds, ND and wintered in McAllen, TX. He loved to spend time out in the boat fishing and on land trying to get grass to grow where it was not meant to grow. He was truly a renaissance man. He possessed tremendous intellectual capabilities and loved meaningful discussion. He seemed to have the capacity to tackle nearly any project. Everett greatest love was his wife, Grace. He exemplified what love is meant to look like through the adoration he showed towards her. He considered her his greatest gift. Everett was a man of great principle who always strove to do the right thing. When he failed in this regard, he was always quick to apologize and try to make things right. He was a man of faith that firmly believed in God’s grace and mercy though he readily admitted that he did not have all the answers. In his words, “he chose to believe”. Everett was a truly good man and will be remembered as such by his family and his many friends. Funeral Service will take place at 11:00am on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at Zion United Methodist Church in Grand Forks, ND with Rev. Clay Lundberg officiating. There will be a visitation one hour prior the service.

Tributes

Everett Sondreal

February 15, 2026