1920
Charles
2009
Charles Orvik
March 28, 1920 — December 27, 2009
Charles (Charlie) Douglas Orvik 89, of Vergas, MN passed away peacefully on December 27, 2009 at Merit Care Hospital, Fargo, ND after a short illness. He had been a life-long resident of Northwood, ND until 2004.
Charles was born March 28, 1920 in Melrose Township, Nelson County, ND to Charlie and Dora (Hanson) Orvik. His father moved the family to Northwood, ND where he taught Charles how to be a farmer which eventually became his lifelong occupation. He attended grade school and high school in Northwood. After graduating he graduated from Aker's Business College and became a bookkeeper in Grand Forks, ND. On August 30, 1941 he married his only love Helen Gertrude Eddie in Northwood, ND. He entered the Army in 1942 and served his time in WWII in Sioux City, Iowa until 1945. After they returned to ND, Charles sold insurance for about 3 years. By that time, his father was quitting farming so Charles moved his family to Northwood and became a successful farmer until he retired in 1982. He was a life-long member of Ebenezer Church in Northwood, served as a councilman in Northwood and was a long time member of the Northwood Masonic Lodge.
After raising their two sons, Chuck and Tom, Charles and Helen enjoyed taking many trips to various areas of the United States and Canada in their camper trailer. They then settled in Pharr, TX and became "Winter Texans" for 30 years until Helen's health required them to remain in Northwood. They made very good friends during their Texas winters and greatly enjoyed their years there. Charles lovingly cared for Helen in their Northwood home for several years before Helen passed away in 2004. Charles then left his life-long home and moved to Vergas, MN to be close to his two sons and their families. He thankfully had an active life in Vergas where he became known as Charlie and people enjoyed his sense of humor. He loved to talk to people, tell stories and play cards. He made many new friends in Vergas and felt Inez Zitzow was a very good friend to him. He enjoyed his senior meal times at the Loon's Nest, taking rides to explore the new countryside, and having his great- grandchildren visit him and play competitive games of cards. He patiently taught the great-grandchildren many card games and it was a special time and bond for all of them. Charles had a great sense of humor, touched many lives during his long life and will be very much missed by his family and good friends.
He is survived by his son Chuck (Joanne) Dent, MN and son Tom (Iris) Detroit Lakes, MN: grandchildren, Scott (Priscilla) Orvik, Dent, MN, Kelly Jo (Josh) Zellmann, Bemidji, MN and Sara (Karl) Julson, Brooklyn Park, MN: nine great-grandchildren, Philip, Bailey, Samuel, Caleb, Mikayla, and Abigail Orvik, Will and Charlie Zellmann, and Jaiden Julson, He also had nieces and nephews who will mourn his passing. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Helen sister Adeline Becker, and daughter Susan.
His funeral service will be Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009 at the United Methodist Church in Vergas, MN at 2:00 p.m. There will be a visitation one hour before the church service. A military tribute will be performed. In the spring, there will be a memorial service and burial in the Northwood Public Cemetery in Northwood, ND.
Charles's family would like to thank the staff at Merit Care Clinic in Detroit Lakes, the ER staff at St. Mary's in Detroit Lakes, the staff at Fargo Merit Care Hospital and the staff at Oak Crossings Transitional Care Unit in Detroit Lakes for their wonderful care and concern.
Memorials will be donated to the Ebenezer Church building fund in Northwood. The church was destroyed in the 2007 tornado that heavily damaged the town.
Charles was born March 28, 1920 in Melrose Township, Nelson County, ND to Charlie and Dora (Hanson) Orvik. His father moved the family to Northwood, ND where he taught Charles how to be a farmer which eventually became his lifelong occupation. He attended grade school and high school in Northwood. After graduating he graduated from Aker's Business College and became a bookkeeper in Grand Forks, ND. On August 30, 1941 he married his only love Helen Gertrude Eddie in Northwood, ND. He entered the Army in 1942 and served his time in WWII in Sioux City, Iowa until 1945. After they returned to ND, Charles sold insurance for about 3 years. By that time, his father was quitting farming so Charles moved his family to Northwood and became a successful farmer until he retired in 1982. He was a life-long member of Ebenezer Church in Northwood, served as a councilman in Northwood and was a long time member of the Northwood Masonic Lodge.
After raising their two sons, Chuck and Tom, Charles and Helen enjoyed taking many trips to various areas of the United States and Canada in their camper trailer. They then settled in Pharr, TX and became "Winter Texans" for 30 years until Helen's health required them to remain in Northwood. They made very good friends during their Texas winters and greatly enjoyed their years there. Charles lovingly cared for Helen in their Northwood home for several years before Helen passed away in 2004. Charles then left his life-long home and moved to Vergas, MN to be close to his two sons and their families. He thankfully had an active life in Vergas where he became known as Charlie and people enjoyed his sense of humor. He loved to talk to people, tell stories and play cards. He made many new friends in Vergas and felt Inez Zitzow was a very good friend to him. He enjoyed his senior meal times at the Loon's Nest, taking rides to explore the new countryside, and having his great- grandchildren visit him and play competitive games of cards. He patiently taught the great-grandchildren many card games and it was a special time and bond for all of them. Charles had a great sense of humor, touched many lives during his long life and will be very much missed by his family and good friends.
He is survived by his son Chuck (Joanne) Dent, MN and son Tom (Iris) Detroit Lakes, MN: grandchildren, Scott (Priscilla) Orvik, Dent, MN, Kelly Jo (Josh) Zellmann, Bemidji, MN and Sara (Karl) Julson, Brooklyn Park, MN: nine great-grandchildren, Philip, Bailey, Samuel, Caleb, Mikayla, and Abigail Orvik, Will and Charlie Zellmann, and Jaiden Julson, He also had nieces and nephews who will mourn his passing. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Helen sister Adeline Becker, and daughter Susan.
His funeral service will be Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009 at the United Methodist Church in Vergas, MN at 2:00 p.m. There will be a visitation one hour before the church service. A military tribute will be performed. In the spring, there will be a memorial service and burial in the Northwood Public Cemetery in Northwood, ND.
Charles's family would like to thank the staff at Merit Care Clinic in Detroit Lakes, the ER staff at St. Mary's in Detroit Lakes, the staff at Fargo Merit Care Hospital and the staff at Oak Crossings Transitional Care Unit in Detroit Lakes for their wonderful care and concern.
Memorials will be donated to the Ebenezer Church building fund in Northwood. The church was destroyed in the 2007 tornado that heavily damaged the town.
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