Samuel Boyer Garland, age 22, passed away peacefully June 22, 2018 at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, surrounded by family. He was born on January 5, 1996 in Green Bay, WI to Thomas Garland and Kimberly (Evjen) Gilles. Sam was a 2014 graduate of Jefferson High School in Bloomington, MN, and a senior at Saint Cloud State University.

Never lose hope and never give up! This is a lesson that Sam taught all of us. For the last 11 months our family and friends rode an emotional roller coaster with Sam while he underwent treatment for a rare form of leukemia. Against the odds, Sam kept up hope, pushed himself and persevered to the very end. He never gave up. He is an inspiration to all who knew him.

Throughout his life, Sam was cheerful, kind and caring towards others. He had an incredible, natural ability to easily make friends with anyone, anywhere, at any time. He made people happy.

Sam was also a passionate sports fan. Although Sam grew up in the Twin Cities, his favorite team was the Green Bay Packers. For most of his life he enjoyed taunting his lifelong Minnesota Viking fan friends with the Packer’s success. Last year not so much, but Sam knew that this year will be different.

Sam will be dearly missed by both family and friends. His mother Kimberly Gilles (Brian), his brother Peter Garland (Emily Heroux), his father Tom Garland (Terri), his stepbrother Beau Gilles, his girlfriend Camille Lund, his grandparents Rita Garland, Gary and Karen Evjen as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, step grandparents and friends.

Sam was preceded in death by his grandmother, Judy Evjen, and his grandfather, Jack Garland.

Sam, all of those who loved you are broken hearted today. We will never forget you. We will love you and miss you until we are all reunited again. We vow going forward to live our lives in a manner that would make you proud.

Services for Sam will be held at Saint Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 13600 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 on Saturday, July 14th at 10:30 a.m. with formal services beginning at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon at Edina Country Club at 1:00 p.m.