Wayne Kenneth Monge

Wayne Kenneth Monge, 75, Fargo, passed away Thursday, March 21, 2019 at Sanford Health Palliative Care, Fargo, surrounded by his family.

Wayne was born February 15, 1944 in Fargo, the son of Gorden and Frances (Toohey) Monge. He grew up in Fargo, attended Roosevelt Elementary, Ben Franklin Junior High and graduated from Oak Grove Lutheran High School in 1962. He was baptized and confirmed at First United Methodist Church in Fargo.

After high school, Wayne served in the Army Reserves from 1962 until he was honorably discharged in 1970. Wayne attended the Toledo School of Meat Cutting and worked for Red Owl in Detroit Lakes and later for Elliott Meats in Fargo and Minot.

On August 29, 1964, Wayne married Linda Bjorke at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Abercrombie, ND. They spent a few months in Minot, then moved back to Fargo.
Wayne began his career as a food broker, with Amstar Corporation, and later the Hunt-Wesson Corporation, in the institutional sales divisions. In 1972, Wayne founded, Wayne K. Monge & Associates. In 1979, he became the first Jiffy Lube franchisee in North Dakota, growing his business to include Jiffy Lube stores in Fargo, Bismarck and Wahpeton, ND; Moorhead, Detroit Lakes and Alexandria, MN and Sioux Falls, SD.

He was a founding member of the Jiffy Lube Association of Franchisees (JLAF), which grew to become one of the strongest franchise associations in the country. He volunteered countless hours to the organization and to the betterment of the Jiffy Lube system. Wayne was honored by his fellow franchisees for his dedication in 1995.

In 1995, Wayne brought the first Sir Speedy franchise to North Dakota, operating it with his daughter and son-in-law, Lora and Kevin Elfstrum. A second store was opened in Wahpeton and operated by his brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Audrey Monge, until their retirement in 2001.

Wayne’s loves were his family, hunting, the lake, Grand Cayman and travel. He looked forward to hunting with his brothers, family and friends every fall. Goose, pheasant, and deer seasons were highlights of his year and he had many trips big game hunting in Canada, Alaska, Northwest Territories, and South Africa.

Summers were spent on East Spirit Lake, Vergas, MN where Wayne spent countless hours circling the lake pulling his daughters and friends skiing and tubing and enjoying sunset pontoon cruises. He was dedicated to a perfect lawn and spent many hours moving sprinklers, spraying weeds and mowing to just the right height.

Wayne is survived by Linda, his wife of 54 years, his daughters Karn (Patrick) Jilek, West Fargo and Lora (Kevin) Elfstrum, Fargo, granddaughters, Alexis Elfstrum, Minneapolis, MN and Anna Elfstrum, River Falls, WI, brothers, Larry (Audrey) Monge, Green Bay, WI and Lee Monge, Fargo. His brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, John (Flo) Bjorke, Bismarck, ND, June Helgeson, Moorhead, and Don Larson, Hannaford, ND and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gorden and Frances Monge and his brother, Lynn Monge.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Hour of Worship, PO Box 1562, Fargo, ND 58107, Messiah Lutheran Church, or the charity of your choice.