Dean Ornquist

Dean DuWayne Ornquist of Middle River, MN shed his mortal bonds to dwell with his savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; on Wednesday, December 18th, 2013 at approximately 7:00 am in Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, ND. A gathering of Friends and Family will be held at Collin's Funeral Home on Sunday, December 22nd, 2013. Viewing will be 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. and at 6:00 p.m. coffee and cookies will be available for the celebration. Dean Ornquist was born October 15th, 1930 to Emil and Pearl Ornquist in Strathcona, MN; where he spent his youth and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1952, serving in the Chemical Corps and Mail Delivery Service in Germany. He married Fern Marie Curtiss on September 3rd, 1954. They spent most of their married life raising their children among family and friends in Middle River, MN; where Dean became a respected and well-loved member of the community. Dean first supported his family as a professional carpenter and farmer. He became a carpentry program instructor at Thief River Falls AVTI and held that position for many years, producing a positive impact on many local students. Dean also opened and operated numerous successful business enterprises including a storage company, two Christmas tree companies, an automobile sales company, a trucking company, a pallet recycling company, a nursery/greenhouse company and a tractor restoration company; he also founded Second Street Capital, Inc. However, he truly enjoyed and excelled at inventing and spent many hours working on designs and building new devices to help people that came to him for his creative and insightful thinking. Once he retired, Dean enjoyed making fine wines to share with his family, friends and neighbors. Above all, Dean loved God and adored his bride, Fern. He was a great dad, an excellent grandfather and a fantastic great-grandfather. He sought to serve God well by loving and helping others. Whether it was giving Christmas trees to the less fortunate, a job to someone just starting out or a listening ear and word of encouragement to a discouraged neighbor, Dean would be there quietly reaching out to help. His presence among his family and in the community will be greatly missed. Dean is survived by his bride, Fern Ornquist of Middle River, MN; sons Dwight Ornquist of Anchorage, AK, Bryan (Janice) Ornquist of Detroit Lakes, MN and Dexter Ornquist of Hastings, MN; grandchildren Micah Ornquist, Danielle (James) Winter, Jordan Ornquist, Jeremiah (Toni) Ornquist, Christopher Ornquist, Benjamin Ornquist, Collan Ornquist, Kaila (Chad) Hanson and Wren Ornquist; great-grandchildren Isaac Ornquist, Isabelle Ornquist, Haylee Ornquist, Landon Ornquist and unborn baby Dean Winter; siblings Eldor, Carol and Morlyn. He was preceded in death by his parents Emil and Pearl (Bjerk) Ornquist and sister Avis (Ornquist) Wallin.

Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501

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Previous Events

Visitation
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Service
Sunday, December 22, 2013

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