CARROL H. TORGERSON

A Memorial Services will be held Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 2:00 pm in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Cooperstown, ND. Interment will be in Silent Hill Cemetery, Aneta, ND. Carrol Howard Torgerson, 90, passed away peacefully at home in Billings, Mont., on Saturday, June 26, 2010. He is remembered fondly for his positive, loving and friendly manner, his outgoing personality and his innate ability to make everyone he came in contact with feel that he truly cared about them. He was a deeply spiritual man who read the Bible an hour every day. By his bedside, he kept a handwritten copy of Ephesians 4:32: “And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” He truly lived by these words. Carrol was born September 26, 1919, the son of Herman and Mary Torgerson, on a homestead farm near Bainville, Montana. In 1920, the family moved to a farm near Aneta, N.D., where Carrol, his brothers Mayo and Miles, and his sister Marjorie attended school. Following the death of his father, he managed the farm for his family. After graduating from Aneta High School, Carrol attended North Dakota State University from 1937-38. His additional education includes Reisch Auctioneering School, Mason City, Iowa in 1959 and property appraisal classes at NDSU in 1970. From 1939-42, Carrol was employed in several positions at the Griggs County Agricultural and Stabilization Service, first as a surveyor’s helper, then surveyor, office clerk, crop adjuster, field man, and finally as administrative assistant and office manager. During World War II, he enlisted in the United States Naval Construction Seabees serving from 1942-45. While in the service, he saw active duty in the Bougainville and the Phillippine Island Invasions. He attained the rank of Yeoman First Class before being honorably discharged in October 1945. After his tour of military duty, he returned to Griggs County and married Maxine Rhodes on February 9, 1946. Carrol managed the Shepard Elevator and Grain Company from 1946-52. In this capacity, he bought and sold grain and kept records of the company. A very capable businessman, he became owner-partner of Main Motors, buying and selling cars, trucks, farm implements and parts, all while supervising 15 employees. Later, he and Maxine owned and operated a fabric store and Torgersons’ Variety and Paint Store and Coffee Shop from 1960-1965. He was also an auctioneer, appraiser and realtor of property from 1960-2003. Along with his business ventures, Carrol was an extremely active member in numerous church, civic, political and Veteran’s organizations. Church activities included Sunday School and Bible School Teacher, Deacon, and president of Trinity Lutheran Church, Cooperstown. Community organizations with which Carrol was involved include secretary and president of the Cooperstown Commercial Club (1957 Diamond Jubilee and 1982 Cooperstown Centennial); president of the Cooperstown Toastmasters Club; master of the Cooperstown Masonic Lodge; Charter Member of the Griggs County Crop Improvement Association; Boy Scout counselor; city assessor; city auditor; secretary and president of the Cooperstown Municipal Association; member of the North Dakota Economic Development Commission, and North Dakota State Gaming Commissioner. Veteran’s organizations with which Carrol was affiliated include local post commander and life member of the Cooperstown American Legion; district, regional and state commander of the North Dakota American Legion, as well as life member and executive committeeman; and life member of the North Dakota Veterans of Foreign Wars. Carrol was an enthusiastic Republican and served in the North Dakota Senate for two terms in the 1960s. There he was Assistant Majority Leader for four sessions, State Senate Vice Chairman of the Tax Committee and served on the Judiciary Committee. He was also a Charter Member of the National Society of State Legislators (1965). He was the Representative for North Dakota State Senate at President Richard Nixon’s inauguration and as the Eastern North Dakota Chairman for Ronald Reagan’s Presidential campaign. In 2003, Carrol left Griggs County and moved to Arizona, where he married Ruth Elaine Rhodes Shervheim. Carrol and Ruthie enjoyed seven happy years together. Carrol is survived by his wife, Ruth; brother Mayo; sister Marjorie; daughter-in-law Peggy (Suess) Torgerson; grandson Brent Torgerson and wife Jessie; brother-in-law Dick Deilke and wife Sandie; brother-in-law Carl Dielke and wife Vi; numerous nephews, nieces and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife Maxine Rhodes Torgerson (1999); infant son Michael Lonny Torgerson (1948); and son Michael Carl Torgerson (2009); brother Miles.