Eugene was born on December 16, 1943 and passed away on Tuesday, February 9, 2010.
Eugene W. Orson, 66, passed away on Feb. 9, 2010, at MeritCare Hospital, Palliative Care Unit, Fargo, surrounded by his wife, one son and close friends. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Faith Lutheran Church, West Fargo. Interment will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.
Gene was born the son of Ole and Eunice (Eckblad) Orson on Dec. 16, 1943, in Bismarck. He grew up in Bismarck, Williston and Minot. Gene married Paulette Haugen of Souris on April 24, 1965, in Minot and lived in West Fargo since 1972. Gene worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for Southeast Human Service Center in Fargo for 38 years, until his retirement in April 2002.
Gene served our nation by joining the North Dakota Army National Guard at the age of 20. He had a distinguished career as a traditional Guardsman, from private to the rank of full colonel. Col. Orson served in many key leadership positions within the state to include command of the Fargo-based 142nd Engineer Battalion (Heavy) and command of the Camp Grafton Training Center in Devils Lake. He retired in 1999, after nearly 35 years of service.
Gene was active in the community, volunteering as a Scout leader for over 20 years and director of Employer Support of Guard and Reserve. He was also an active member of Faith Lutheran Church.
Gene enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, golfing, camping and working on projects such as building his retirement home.
Gene is survived by his wife, Paulette; son, Paul Orson, Circle Pines, Minn.; son, Jay and Barbara (Pagel) Orson, Aldie, Va.; daughter, Robyn and Christopher Berg, Devils Lake; and brother, Duane and Denise Orson, Coon Rapids, Minn. He has five grandchildren, Kohl, Keithen, Seth, Taylor and Isabelle.
Gene was preceded in death by brother, Roger Orson; mother, Eunice Orson; and father; Ole Orson.
An incredible video testimony to my good friend Gene Orson - truly sad to see him gone but now safely in the arms of Jesus, away from the pain and suffering he had in his final days.
Gene and I shared amateur radio and a love for hunting - trekking in the boondocks near Buffalo Lodge lake looking for pheasant, quail and anything else that moved...
I remember going down to Minot Auditorium one evening with Gene and we watched the National Guard going through its evening paces - we both decided that the Guard was what we wanted to do - Gene joined, my dad advised against it - saying things could get bad soon - sure enough, the next week the Berlin Airlift went into effect, the guard was called up - I suspect Gene was on board for that exercise.
I will miss him now but will see him in heaven some day soon -
Carroll Rasch
Eugene was born on December 16, 1943 and passed away on Tuesday, February 9, 2010.
Eugene W. Orson, 66, passed away on Feb. 9, 2010, at MeritCare Hospital, Palliative Care Unit, Fargo, surrounded by his wife, one son and close friends. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Faith Lutheran Church, West Fargo. Interment will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.
Gene was born the son of Ole and Eunice (Eckblad) Orson on Dec. 16, 1943, in Bismarck. He grew up in Bismarck, Williston and Minot. Gene married Paulette Haugen of Souris on April 24, 1965, in Minot and lived in West Fargo since 1972. Gene worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for Southeast Human Service Center in Fargo for 38 years, until his retirement in April 2002.
Gene served our nation by joining the North Dakota Army National Guard at the age of 20. He had a distinguished career as a traditional Guardsman, from private to the rank of full colonel. Col. Orson served in many key leadership positions within the state to include command of the Fargo-based 142nd Engineer Battalion (Heavy) and command of the Camp Grafton Training Center in Devils Lake. He retired in 1999, after nearly 35 years of service.
Gene was active in the community, volunteering as a Scout leader for over 20 years and director of Employer Support of Guard and Reserve. He was also an active member of Faith Lutheran Church.
Gene enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, golfing, camping and working on projects such as building his retirement home.
Gene is survived by his wife, Paulette; son, Paul Orson, Circle Pines, Minn.; son, Jay and Barbara (Pagel) Orson, Aldie, Va.; daughter, Robyn and Christopher Berg, Devils Lake; and brother, Duane and Denise Orson, Coon Rapids, Minn. He has five grandchildren, Kohl, Keithen, Seth, Taylor and Isabelle.
Gene was preceded in death by brother, Roger Orson; mother, Eunice Orson; and father; Ole Orson.
Carroll Rasch
Eugene Shaparenko
An incredible video testimony to my good friend Gene Orson - truly sad to see him gone but now safely in the arms of Jesus, away from the pain and suffering he had in his final days.
Gene and I shared amateur radio and a love for hunting - trekking in the boondocks near Buffalo Lodge lake looking for pheasant, quail and anything else that moved...
I remember going down to Minot Auditorium one evening with Gene and we watched the National Guard going through its evening paces - we both decided that the Guard was what we wanted to do - Gene joined, my dad advised against it - saying things could get bad soon - sure enough, the next week the Berlin Airlift went into effect, the guard was called up - I suspect Gene was on board for that exercise.
I will miss him now but will see him in heaven some day soon -
Carroll Rasch