Alan Tuntland ’62 mechanical engineering, died Oct. 11, 2021, at his Rochester, Minnesota, home after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Just five days earlier, he was honored for making the lead gift on a new hangar at the Brookings Airport for the aviation program at SDSU.
Ground was broken Oct. 6 for the Alan O. Tuntland Hangar, a 13,620 square-foot building that will accommodate 12 aircraft that are owned or leased by the SDSU program. Tuntland’s gift of his Piper Malibu JetProp DLX to the SDSU Foundation in 2009 laid the groundwork for a partnership where the SDSU Foundation purchased aircraft and leased them to SDSU for use in the aviation program. The partnership has reduced costs to students.
After making a lead gift toward the hangar project, he asked for a small plaque inside the hangar. Friends and colleagues made gifts in Tuntland’s honor to ensure his name would be placed on the exterior of the building.
Tuntland, who had become a pilot by age 16, had a successful career in finance, sales and printing. He was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus in 2002 and is a former chair of the SDSU Foundation council of trustees.
Tuntland served in the South Dakota Air National Guard, held a couple personnel positions and in 1970 began his entrepreneurial career as owner of GMC Truck in Rochester. He sold the business in 1976 and bought Schmidt Printing, which he owned until 1989, when he sold it to Taylor Corp. of Mankato, Minn. He continued to work for Taylor until 1994.
Tuntland also was a major leader and benefactor for the Rochester Area Foundation.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sharon, three daughters, four grandchildren and a sister.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Rochester Area Foundation or the SDSU Foundation.
