Malcolm Stuart Tweten

Malcolm Stuart Tweten, 88, of Fargo, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 14, 2013. His loving wife of 62 years, June, was by his side when he passed at Bethany on 42nd in Fargo. The son of Sidney and Olga (Syverson) Tweten, Malcolm was born April 30, 1925, in rural Reynolds, ND. He graduated from Reynolds High School in 1941. After his father’s death in 1948, Malcolm farmed with his brothers Obed and Kenneth. On June 16, 1951, he married June Gjelsness, of Reynolds, and together they raised seven children. They moved near Buxton, ND in 1954, where Malcolm continued farming, raising small grains and potatoes. Malcolm and June moved to Fargo in 1994.

In 1979, Malcolm and his brother-in-law Maurice Gjelsness founded NoKota Packers, Inc., in Buxton, ND, which specializes in washing, packing, and storing table stock potatoes, and still continues as a family business.

In addition to farming and family, Malcolm gave his time to state and local organizations. Malcolm served in the North Dakota State Legislature from 1973 to 1988, serving on both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees. He was a State Director of Farm Bureau, member of the Red River Valley Potato Growers’ Association, and chairman of the 20th District Republican Party. Malcolm was also very involved in Highland Lutheran Church, Cummings, ND, and later at Messiah Lutheran Church in Fargo.

After he retired from farming and politics, Malcolm put his energies toward supporting the mission of Oak Grove Lutheran School, serving as a member of the Oak Grove Board of Regents.
Malcolm and June adopted their four oldest children, which started a relationship with Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota that continues to this day.

While always driven and a hard worker, Malcolm would not work on Sundays, instead reserving the day for going to church, reading the paper, taking an afternoon nap and spending time with his family.

Malcolm was a visionary and often was thinking well ahead of his time. His curiosity pushed him to explore innovations in farming, education, technology, and health, and he pursued each area with vigor.

Leaving a legacy of hard work, helping others, and always being grateful for God’s blessings, Malcolm’s deep faith in Jesus was evidenced in his support of the church and his well-worn Bible.

He is survived by his wife June (Gjelsness) Tweten, seven children: Steve (Kelly Eggen), Erik (Carol), Bill (Deb), Liz (Bernard) Sanborn, Margaret (Greg) Asheim, Dan (Annetta) and Jon (Jessica), 20 grandchildren, 8 great–grandchildren, sisters Marian Knudsvig and Erlys (Dell) Hedlund, brothers-in-law Ernest Gilbertson and Clark Tufte, and a sister-in-law Carol Tweten

Malcolm was preceded in death by a grandson Christopher Sanborn, twin brother Obed, brothers Harold and Kenneth, and sisters Beryl Gilbertson and Harriet Tufte.

Malcolm's video tribute can be viewed at http://www.philpetersonproductions.com/hr-memorials.htm