Glen Rockne

Glen Rockne, 84, of Villa Maria in Fargo and recently of Park View Terrace in Moorhead passed peacefully in his sleep on December 30, 2009. His health had deteriorated recently and he received care at both the Veteran’s Hospital and Meritcare. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all have loved his appearing.” St. Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy, verses 7 & 8 Glen Harlan Rockne was born in Mayville, North Dakota July 24, 1925 to Herbert and Gudrun Rockne. He was the seventh and last of their children. He attended Mayville schools graduating from Mayville High School in 1943. He joined the U.S. Navy and served as a medical technician stationed in the Aleutian islands at Adak, Dutch Harbor and Kodiak during the remainder of World War II. He returned to the area after the war and married Shirley Bovaird of rural Hillsboro October 4, 1946. After working in Page at Lindsey Funeral Home and the L&R Store (Lindsey and Rockne) with his brother Leon and brother-in-law Maynard Lindsey, Glen and Shirley moved to Chicago where Glen attended and graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science. They returned to North Dakota and Glen returned to the funeral home business in Page. Subsequently, they moved to Moorhead, MN where Glen worked for Wright Funeral Home. Glen was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1959 and was isolated at Ah-Gwah-Ching Sanitarium outside Walker, MN and then at the Veteran’s Hospital in St. Paul. Glen and Shirley divorced in 1961. In 1964 he changed careers to focus on the clothing industry spending time at R&G Bootery, Northport Clothiers and Dayton’s. On October 14, 1965 Glen married Thenora (Nora) LaPash at Messiah Lutheran in Fargo. They enjoyed 35 wonderful years together until her death in August of 2001. Glen loved to sell men’s shoes and suits…and especially to trade stories and memories with the customers from Portland, Finley, Sabin and elsewhere as he did so. Grouse hunting, growing roses and just “going for a ride” with Nora were his favorite pastimes. In recent years he was involved as a host at The Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead and as a volunteer with Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota. He consumed a river of coffee and never turned down a Norwegian treat of any kind. These past few years at Park View Terrace have been especially rewarding with card-playing, visiting and many great friendships formed including a very special one with his frequent companion Cathy Koenig. Glen was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Nora; his brother Leon; sisters Adelaide, Luella, Amy, Lorraine and Constance; and a grandson, Mikkel Rockne. Glen is survived by son Tom (Jana) Rockne of Traverse City, MI; daughter Diane (Bill) Gibson of Fargo and son, David (Bernice) LaPash of West Fargo; eight grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation: Sunday, January 3, 2010 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home and one hour prior to services at the church Prayer Service: Sunday, January 3, 2010 at 7:00 PM. Memorial Service: Monday, January 4, 2010, 11:00 AM Messiah Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND. Inurnment: Riverside Cemetery, Moorhead, MN. At a later date. Memorials may be directed to any local AA group, Messiah Lutheran Church or Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota.