Hans Sorensen

Hans William Sorensen, 87, of Fargo, ND, passed away on February 25, 2010, at Bethany Homes on University in Fargo, while being comforted by family and staff from Bethany and Hospice of the Red River Valley. Hans was born in Graceville, MN, on June 1, 1922, to William and Dagmar (Olesen) Sorensen of Graceville. He was baptized and confirmed at Mount Olive Lutheran Church and attended grade school and high school in Graceville, MN. He attended the University of Minnesota in St. Paul for two years. At age 19, Hans purchased a truck and started the Graceville Trucking Association carrying cargo and cattle between Graceville and Minneapolis/St. Paul. He married Lillian Harstad of Minot, ND, on November 26, 1942. In 1944, the family moved to a farm near the Kensington, MN area and in 1948, moved to Bottineau, ND. In 1955, Hans began his 30-year career in construction management and sales when he joined the Koland Construction Company in Bottineau. In 1960, the family moved to Bismarck where he joined Dakota Building Systems. In 1969, Hans joined Gateway Builders in Fargo, purchasing the company in 1979. Hans sold the company and retired in 1985. Hans was a man of faith and dedicated much time to the church in each community the family resided. He taught Sunday school and served on numerous building committees and church boards throughout his lifetime. He was a founding member and served of chairman of the building committee of Good Shepard Lutheran Church, Bismarck, ND; a founding board member and vice-chairman of the building committee of Missouri Slope Lutheran Home, Bismarck. Hans served as board president and board member of Oak Grove Lutheran High School in Fargo. He was proud of his Danish heritage and served as president and member of the Red River Danes Organization. He was a member of Olivet Lutheran Church in Fargo. Hans was a cancer survivor and, in the early 1980s, participated in a clinical study at the University of Minnesota hospitals. While in treatment, he faced death on numerous occasions, was given only months to live, yet at the end of the study was its sole survivor. As a survivor, he became a participant in a nationwide study examining holistic healing and the power of family, friends, faith, prayer, humor and attitude in facing adversity. After his experiences, Hans often shared his story speaking to many groups and organizations and his message was one of faith and simply stated, “Live or die, I win!” He is survived by his wife, Lillian; children, Marilyn Johnson (Dennis), Bismarck, ND; Lois Fryhling (Rick - deceased), Prairie Rose, ND; William “Bill” Sorensen (Pat), Bismarck, ND; James “Jim” Sorensen (Shirley), Fargo, ND; and Kathleen Johnson (Todd), Hallock, MN; ten grandchildren, LoRi Morrissey (Matt), Rochester, MN; Skip Fryhling (Diane), Bismarck, ND; Medora Benson (Paul), Woodbury, MN; Tana Sorensen, Oshkosh, WI; Jenna Sorensen and Tricia Sorensen, Bismarck, ND; Christian Sorensen, Omaha, NE; and Matthew Sorensen, Fargo, ND; Nichelle and Brynn Larson, Grand Forks, ND; great-grandchildren, Kasey and Cooper Morrissey; Barrett, Bjorn and Brygg Benson; Benjamin and Gavin Fryhling; sister-in-law, Margaret Sorensen; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Dagmar Sorensen; sister, Lydia Wulff; and brother, Harold. Funeral Service: Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at 11:00 AM, at Olivet Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND. Visitation: Monday, March 1, 2010, from 5-7 PM, at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo. Prayer Service: Monday, March 1, 2010, at 7:00 PM, at Hanson-Runsvold. Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Fargo, ND.