- Nels Sorensen
Nels Jorgen Sorensen, Jr. age 87, passed away on March 30, 2009. Nels was the 5th son
of Rika and Nels Sorensen Sr. He was born July 4, 1921 on the family farm. He was
delivered by his Grandmother Maren Johnson. He attended Lowell School and also Dane
School in the summer.
At the age of 16 he worked at the CCC camp at Belton, Montana driving truck for the men and
enjoyed the beautiful scenery. He took many pictures, a hobby which gathered 3,000 slides
and also a collection of old family pictures which he also shared with others. He entered
the army and served 9 months and received a medical discharge because of childhood
polio affecting his ability to turn in marching maneuvers.
December 25, 1945, he married Violet Torgerson. They had three daughters, Victoria Ann
Agnes was born December 11, 1946, and passed away February 16, 1949 at 2 years, 2
months old. Gwen Rika was born December 1, 1949. Melanie Dawne was born September
18, 1961.
Nels was a very gentle, patient, and loving husband, and father of 3, grandfather of 3 and great grandfather of 6. He loved the Lord and
served him faithfully. Nels was an inventor, carpenter, and farmer. He invented a grain bin mover, and together with his brother, Gilbert
moved many bins over the years and made a lot of friends. He also built tractor cabs. He built his own house with help from family and
neighbors and went on to build several houses in the area. He designed and helped build the ceiling of the Assembly of God Church in
Plentywood. He also helped build the Assembly of God Church in Coalridge, and did remodeling of the Westby Assembly of God
Church. He went up to St. Petersburg, Alaska on a Missions trip and helped build a church there. He taught Adult Sunday School Class
and was a deacon for many years in Coalridge Assembly of God church. He was also a deacon and usher for many years in
Plentywood, and for the last 10 years they have attended the Westby Assembly of God Church. He enjoyed shaking hands and greeting
the children.
He enjoyed studying the Bible and made a special stand he called “En-himste-gimste-envirmill”. He made this stand so he could read
the Bible in bed at night; he read through the Bible several times. This Danish saying came from his Father. It means, “something
made for a purpose.” Nels enjoyed making lamps on the turning lathe, especially open spiral ones. Also he made clocks from the
family tree grove. Turntables he made were a favorite to give to others. He planted and nurtured his grove of trees, including 185
evergreen trees. A man of honor, he was proud to have a monument put on the farm in honor of his parents’ homesteading and the
100th Anniversary of the farm in 2008. The farm is rented to his much loved nephew, Kermit and wife Charlotte.
Nels enjoyed visiting Denmark and Norway. He made three trips to Denmark: the first with Martin, then with Melanie and later with
Gwen. His Danish cousins said his Danish speech was pure and they had a good visit speaking Dane. He is survived by his wife
Violet, daughters Gwen Sorensen and Melanie Sorensen, Granddaughters Rika Glover, Regina (Andy) Davis of Sacramento, Rhonda
(Jae) Engle of Minneapolis, Great Grandchildren, Chaz DeFoe, Austyn Shay Johnson, Dallas Johnson, Derrick Artz, Jacob Engle and
James Engle, a sister Myra (Alvin) Christensen, and brothers Gilbert (Ethel) and Lloyd (Cherril), and many cousins, nephews, and
nieces and their families.
He is preceded in death by his daughter Vicki, his parents Rika and Nels Sr., his brothers Martin, Norman, and Einer, his sisters Lillian
Sizemore, Agnes Dyrdahl, and Gladys Simonson.
Services will be held at the Plentywood Assembly of God Church Friday at 2:00 pm with Rev. Stan Stephan officiating, and Donna
Stephan as pianist. Burial will be at Nathanael Cemetery, at Dagmar, with lunch served at Plentywood Congregational Church following
the graveside rite. Pallbearers will be Kermit Sorensen, Clifford Torgerson, Gail Sundsted, Tom Jorgensen, Kenny Nielsen, Earl
Harshbarger, Cary Sundsted and Don Haven. Usher will be Allen Harshbarger.
Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood has charge of arrangements.
| 1921 - 2009 |
| . . . . in Memory of . . . . |
Remembering Nels
Hope someone gets this note. Very fond memories of Nels and Vi and family, growing up together in P'wood. Love,respect and honor to
both of them.
David Polk
Helena, Montana
davidnpolk@gmail.com
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both of them.
David Polk
Helena, Montana
davidnpolk@gmail.com
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