Cooper B. Land

Cooper B. Land passed away on March 11, 2016. Cooper was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas on April 8, 1936 to Cooper B. Land Sr. and Lena Land. In 1967, Cooper married Solveig Kristensen Land and together they raised their three children in Bismarck, North Dakota. In the early 1970’s Cooper earned a Ph. D. in geology from the Colorado School of Mines, and he went on to become a prominent petroleum geologist.

Cooper’s words and actions embodied honesty, generosity, intelligence, humility, integrity, loyalty, and an enduring positive attitude. When Cooper decided to do something he did it one-hundred percent, whether it was golf, yoga, bird watching, work, or any number of intellectual pursuits. Cooper also loved music, particularly Willie Nelson.

In the latter part of Cooper’s life he divided his time between Los Gatos, California and Hot Springs, Arkansas. Cooper said that he loved being active and spending time with Gretchen Bell and their many friends in Los Gatos, and he also loved visiting his family and friends and being at his lake home in Hot Springs.

Cooper is survived by many loving friends, his beloved partner Gretchen Bell, his former spouse and dear friend Solveig Land, their children, Kris Land and his wife Danelle Land, Elizabeth Quant and her husband Shawn Quant, Signe Synstelien and her husband Eric Synstelien, and Cooper’s grandchildren Jacob Land, Jack Levine, Sam Levine, Solveig Quant, Henry Quant, Roger Quant, and Monica, Catherine, John and Nick Synstelien.

Memorial Contributions May Be Made to the Following:

Humane Society of Garland County, Lonsdale, Arkansas

Bismarck, North Dakota YMCA

North Dakota Historical Society

Garland County Historical Society