Jean Dean Holland, 87, passed away April 10, 2011, at Woodside Village in Grand Forks, N.D. She was born October 29, 1923, in Omaha, Neb., to E. L. and Ellen (Dean) Holland. Jean graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1946 and then went on to receive a Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from Wayne State University in Detroit. After a year at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, she came to Grand Forks in 1949 to help establish and chair the Medical Technology Bachelor of Science Program in the Pathology Department at UND. Later on, she helped develop a Master of Science in Laboratory Medicine before retiring in 1985 from UND with the rank of Associate Professor Emerita. In 1975, Jean received the Charles D. DeBruyn Kops Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching and Service.

She married William (Bill) Saumur on October 27, 1951.

Jean served as president and held other offices in the North Dakota Society for Medical Technologists. In 2001, she received the Golden Service award from the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science. An endowment, which she established upon retirement, is designated for UND students majoring in clinical laboratory science. In 2009–10, she received the Silver Apple Award from the North Dakota Retired Teachers Association.

Memorials are preferred to the North Dakota Museum of Art, Holy Family Catholic Church, or the Jean Holland Saumur Hematology Scholarship Endowment through the University Foundation.