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| Robert A. Sorvig, 82 |
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| Written by TRF Times |
 St. Hilaire - Robert A. Sorvig, 82, died Monday, Dec. 5, 2011 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, N.D. surrounded by his loving family.Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Evangelical Free Church in Thief River Falls, with Pastor Mel Sich officiating. Interment will follow at Black River Cemetery, rural St. Hilaire. Military honors will be provided by the Ecklund-Holmstrom American Legion Post 117 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2793. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., with a 5:30 p.m. prayer service on Friday, Dec. 9, at the Evangelical Free Church in Thief River Falls. Visitation will also be held from Noon until 1 p.m. on Saturday at the church. Robert Aldo Sorvig was born on Sept. 19, 1929 in Thief River Falls, the son of Alfred Marius and Lilly Elizabeth (Hallstrom) Sorvig. He was baptized and confirmed at the Black River Lutheran Church in rural St. Hilaire. He attended the District 99 Country School through the eighth grade and the Agriculture College in Crookston, where he graduated from high school in 1947. On Sept. 2, 1949, Bob was united in marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Shirley Mae Kruse. They were married at the Mission Covenant Church in St. Hilaire and made their home on the Sorvig family farm in Polk Centre Township of Pennington County. To this union, six children were born, Ronald, Debra, Scott, Steve, Mark and Carol.  In 1950, the National Guard Fox Company 136th Infantry Regiment to which Bob was attached was mobilized because of the Korean War. Shirley and their infant son, Ron followed him to Camp Rucker, Alabama, where they lived until Bob was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Sgt. 1st Class in 1952. They moved to Hibbing, where Bob worked as a truck driver in the iron mines. In 1953, they returned to the Sorvig family farm where Bob and Shirley raised their family. In addition to farming, Bob also worked for Arrowhead Chemical & Pest Control, Arctic Cat, and St. Hilaire Supply until 1974, when he began operating Sorvig Oil, which he operated until his retirement. He served as Polk Centre Township Assessor for many years; was Sunday school teacher, youth leader, Council member and Chairman of Black River Lutheran Church and was instrumental in adding the new addition there in 1982 as Chairman of the Building Committee. Bob was also a member of the Thief River Falls School Board for six years, a member of the American Legion Post and Lions Club of Thief River Falls. In later years, they enjoyed attending the Evangelical Free Church in Thief River Falls, where he was active in Berean Bible Class and Fellowship. He helped in many ways to clean up the former Washington School when purchased by the Evangelical Free Church. Bob enjoyed golfing, (he always thought golf was a good way to keep you humble), horseshoes, fishing, deer hunting, solitaire, playing catch; and was an avid supporter of his children and grandchildren’s extracurricular activities. After his strokes, Bob enjoyed using his golf cart to keep track of the farm and to entertain his grandkids. He would never miss a family reunion; and he especially enjoyed “Christmas In September” with his family at Leech Lake. Survivors include his loving wife of 62 years, Shirley of rural Red Lake Falls; six children, Ronald (Mary) Sorvig of Grand Forks, N.D., Debra (Juan) Pedraza of Grand Forks, N.D., Robert Scott (Dorinda) Sorvig of rural Red Lake Falls, Steven (Roxane) Sorvig of St. Hilaire, Mark Sorvig of rural Red Lake Falls and Carol (Tim) Olson of Grand Forks, N.D.; fourteen grandchildren, Ryan (Amy) Sorvig, Derek (Ashley) Toliver, Andrew (Lauren) Toliver, Kristin Toliver, Robert Luke Sorvig, Joshua Sorvig, Matthew Sorvig, Leah Sorvig, Aaron Sorvig, Nate Sorvig, Tyson Sorvig, Keenan Sorvig, Jacob Olson, and Svea Olson; great grandchildren, Ava and Eden; and step-great-grandchildren, Ethan, Macy, Teagan, Atley, Mia and Brooks; sister, Evelyn (Don) Radzak of Brooklyn Park; brother, David (Claudia) Sorvig of Maple Bay; sisters-in-law, Eileen Sorvig and Joan (Dave) Strong; special cousin, Muriel Peterson; daily phone buddy, John Flom; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Raymond Sorvig; sister-in-law, Darlene Carpenter; and infant step-great grandchild, Kinley. Family condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com. A00003B2011DC07  |
