Carroll Borke
September 1, 1915 ~ December 5, 2014
Carroll Borke was born to Norin and Laura (Norby) Borke on September 1, 1915, in Bloomfield Township. He and his family moved to a farmstead in Norway Township at age 7, where he grew up and took over the family farm after the death of his father. He attended school in Norway Township and graduated in 1933 from Hillsboro High School.
On November 15, 1950, Carroll married Naomi (Molvig) at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Buxton. They just celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary last month.
He maintained the family farm while his brothers went off to war. He grew a variety of grains, but most importantly, he grew potatoes. Many people from the area either worked for him during the harvest or gathered leftover potatoes in the field after the harvest, and he supplied his potatoes for many banquets and meals in the area. Carroll was an active member of the Red River Valley Potato Growers Association Board, as well as a Traill County Soil Conservation District Supervisor.
Carroll was the last charter member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. A man of quiet faith, he participated in Bible studies, Church Council, and the Stewardship Committee. He was a member of the Building Committee that enclosed the Narthex and installed the elevator.
He enjoyed sports, playing baseball in Blanchard during his younger years and winning many bowling tournaments. He took up golf in his 40s and in his 80s, he hit two holes in one at the Apache Wells Country Club in Mesa, Arizona.
He and Naomi enjoyed spending winters at their home in Apaches Wells, in Mesa. In the summer, they often went to Big Cormorant Lake, where he took his grandchildren and great nieces and nephews on many boat rides.
Carroll passed away on Friday, December 5 at Sanford Hillsboro Hospital.
He is survived by his wife, Naomi, two daughters, Ramona, Hillsboro, and Shannon (Paul) VanHorn , Fargo, brother Merlin (Bud) (Lois) Borke, Bismarck, and grandchildren Phillip (Hanneli) VanHorn, Zachary VanHorn, Laura Schumacher, and Brittany VanHorn, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Millard and Lowell, and sister Eleanor McInnes.
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Ramona
I read about your dad in the forum. So sorry for you and your family. They were so kind to me when you and I were in AZ
. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Lorna Mathias
Columbus OHI am sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
David Brakke, son of Bernhard Brakke
Rapid City SDSorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prays!
Rockford MIDear Naomi and family,
We are so sorry to hear about your loss. We are sending our sympathy and prayers. I am so grateful that we were able to join you and Carroll in that summer to share family history with Eleanor, Mom (Lois) Norby, sis Barbara Hinnenkamp, cousins David and Donna Brown.
Keith and I have moved to Michigan to spend more time with our grandchildren as they participate in their activities. We very much miss our family in Minnesota
and North Dakota
as well as our church family in Detroit Lakes, but we are already busy with Christmas activities of the grandchildren. Our youngest grandson’s Christmas school program was last Thursday. The theme was the children’s heritage — fascinating stories Theren chose to be a Norwegian and wished everyone “God Jul!’
Love, Keith and Paula Sanders
St. Paul MN
Carroll was my mother’s (Marian Norby) first cousin. We got to know him well during our many visits to the Hillsboro/Grand Forks area. My wife Donna and I visited Carroll and Naomi twice during the last couple years. Carroll was as sharp as ever in recounting stories from olden times. He was a treasured link to my mother and grandfather, Oscar Norby. We will greatly miss his kind manner and impish wit.