Orten B. Brodshaug
May 18, 1935 ~ December 11, 2023
Orten Burton Brodshaug, a devoted farmer and beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2023, surrounded by family. Orten was born on May 18, 1935, in Warren Township, North Dakota, to Casper and Mable Brodshaug. Orten’s life was defined by his unwavering commitment to his family, his deep connection to the land, and his passion for farming.
Orten’s journey began attending Oak Grove School before graduating from Kindred High School. Orten furthered his education at the North Dakota School of Science and North Dakota Agricultural College (NDSU) where he honed his skills and knowledge in the field he had always loved.
After completing his education, Orten answered the call to serve his country and enlisted in the Army, serving actively from 1955 to 1957, mostly in Germany.
On December 26, 1958, Orten exchanged vows with Sandra Fjelstad at a Christmas wedding at Norman Church. Together, they raised four children, Joel, Susanne, Shannon, and Heidi, creating a loving home filled with warmth, laughter and cherished memories.
Throughout his life, Orten found solace and purpose caring for his land. He loved farming and put many miles on his pickup checking the fields. He was blessed to have had many dedicated employees who worked alongside him over the years. After his retirement, he appreciated how his tenants cared for his land with respect and integrity. Orten’s caring nature extended far beyond the fields. He built strong and lasting relationships, cherishing the camaraderie of coffee groups and being a familiar face at local cafes.
Orten will be deeply missed by his devoted wife of 65 years, Sandy, and his children, Susanne, Shannon, and Heidi. His legacy lives on through his granddaughter, Alexis (Dylan Offutt) Wallwork, who will carry his spirit with her always. He is also survived by his sister, Lorraine Hetland, and brother, Robert (Jackie) Brodshaug, as well as his three brothers-in-law, Jerome (Carol) Fjelstad, Gordon (Cheryl) Fjelstad, and Darrel (Claudia) Fjelstad and their families.
Though our hearts are heavy with grief, we find solace in knowing that Orten has been reunited with his son, Joel, who preceded him in death.
A private family funeral service was held to honor Orten’s life. Following the service, Orten was laid to rest at the Kindred Cemetery.
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My sympathy to Orten’s family.
May your fond memories of your father, husband, grandfather bring you peace and strength in the days moving forward.
Our sincere sympathy to Orton’s family.
Orten was a good neighbor and a progressive agra-businessman. He taught me how to properly plan ahead by looking beyond the current challenge. One example, the Kindred FFA chapter toured his then-new shop and Orten shared his thinking. The shop door was far bigger than his largest equipment. Orten explained, “I built the door as large as an I-29 underpass because any future John Deere equipment will have to fit under the underpass to get here.” That idea exploded my teenage brain. To this day, I think of Orten whenever designing a system or building.
Our sympathies extended to the entire Brodshaug family, at the time.
Mark and Lana [Johnson] Perry
We enjoyed looking through Grandma Mabel’s photos over the holidays. I’d love to hear from Sandy, Suzanne, Shannon and/or Heidi.