W. K. Voorhees

W.K. (Webb) Voorhees, 89, of Fargo, ND, died Monday, August 13, 2012, under the care of Villa Maria and Hospice of the Red River Valley. He was born May 22, 1923 in Sturgis, SD, the son of Sidney and Bess (Lambert) Voorhees.

Webb grew up on a ranch in the Black Hills near Bear Butte, graduated from Sturgis High School in 1941 and enrolled at Spearfish Teacher’s College. He enlisted and served in the US Air Force from 1943 to 1946 and remained a member of the Air Force Reserves, retiring as a major in 1983.
Following active duty, he attended and graduated from North Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness, and later received a Master of Science degree in Education from University of Wisconsin – Madison.

In October 1955, Webb married Joyce Knudson in Taylor, ND. He was employed by the North Dakota Extension Service as a County Agent and served in Morton, Mountrail, Stark, and Steele counties. He retired in 1986 after 18 years in Pembina County. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agents and was the first non-farmer to receive the Outstanding Agricultural Award for Pembina County.

Wherever he was based, Webb was active in civic affairs. He was a member of the city council in Cavalier, ND from 1974 to 2002, serving the last ten years as mayor. He was instrumental in bringing public swimming pools to two of the communities where he lived.

Webb was committed to bringing water systems to rural areas and founded the North Valley Water District in Pembina County. He remained a board member for 39 years.

An avid athlete and sports fan, Webb participated in many sports in high school, played football at Spearfish Teacher’s College, played community basketball, and enjoyed cross-country skiing. He followed local high school sports, and was a NDSU Bison fan to the end.

In addition to sports, lifelong learning was a passion. Webb enjoyed books and music and maintained an extensive collection of both. Throughout his life, he and Joyce travelled whenever possible both in the U.S. and internationally.

Webb is survived by his wife; three daughters; Jean Voorhees, Frisco, Texas; Nancy (Pete Martin) Voorhees, Half Moon Bay, California; and Stephanie (Michael) Holm, Moorhead, Minnesota; five grandchildren, Cooper, Morgan, and Maret Holm; Kirsten and Mitchell Martin; sister, Dolores Woods, Powell, Wyoming; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Voorhees, Sturgis, South Dakota.

He was preceded in death by his parents and five brothers.

Committal will be at the Pioneer Cemetery, Taylor, ND, on Wednesday, August 15, at 1:00p.m. Memorial Services will be held Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 2:00p.m. at Touchmark (formerly Waterford), 1200 Harwood Drive, Fargo, ND and at United Lutheran Church, Cavalier, ND on Saturday, August 18, at 11:00a.m. officiated by Pastor Jack Richards. Military honors will be provided by the American Legion, Post #11, Cavalier.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice of the Red River Valley.