John Morris Torpen December 15, 1914 – May 5, 2010

John Morris Torpen, 95, of Scranton, ND died peacefully Wednesday morning, May 5, 2010 at the West River Regional Medical Center, Hettinger, ND. Funeral services are scheduled for Monday morning, May 10th at 10:30 AM, at the Peace Lutheran Church, Scranton, ND. Pastor Mary Peterson will officiate with burial to follow at the Union Prairie Cemetery, rural Scranton. A Family and Friends Service will be held Sunday evening at 7:00 PM at Peace Lutheran Church, Scranton, ND. John's life spanned the major events of the 20th century.

John Torpen was born December 15th, 1914 to Melvin and Johanna (Holte) Torpen on their homestead in Whiting Township of Bowman County. He was the third child, the first son, followed by two other sisters and two brothers. He was raised on the family farm and attended the Whiting School #2 southwest of Scranton, ND. As the first born son he was soon working with his father farming with horses. He enjoyed farm animals his entire life. He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran Church. He joined the CCCs in 1934 working on government projects in North Dakota and Arkansas. In 1936, during the Great Depression with no jobs available, he and his good friend Dennis Ziebarth headed west looking for work. They worked in the hay fields of Montana and the apple orchards and hops fields of Washington. Upon returning home in 1937 he purchased his Uncle Emil Torpen's farm from the Land Bank of North Dakota and started farming which he continued through his semi-retirement.

On June 8th, 1947, John was married to Marjorie Thune at the Scranton Lutheran parsonage. They resided on the farmstead they owned five miles south of Scranton. John loved farming, ranching, and building their farmstead. He raised wheat, Black Angus cattle and Morgan horses. He took pride in his work, and was a true farmer: a jack of all trades (fixing machinery, welding, carpentry, etc.). He was always resourceful and never wasteful. He lived and taught his family the Golden Rule. He and Marjorie enjoyed music and dances in the local community. Soon their family began to grow, first Dianna, then Marsha, Jacqueline, Randal, Sandra, and Jane. He taught all of his daughters how to waltz. He would play his harmonica as some of his daughters played the piano. John loved his family and always made Christmas extra special.

John worked to be a good neighbor and enjoyed working with other neighbors. He was very friendly and no one remained a stranger long after they met John. There was always time for a cup of coffee and even a meal with neighbors and friends on the Torpen farm. John was active for many years on the Whiting township board. He made sure his family attended church every Sunday and he was a board member for many years in the Union Prairie Lutheran Church. He enjoyed bowling, hunting and playing cards with his friends and family. It wouldn't take much to entice John to a good game of pinochle, whist, and cribbage.

John loved having his family around him and was so proud of each of his children. He took great pleasure in his grandchildren and great grandchildren and could be found playing with them and teasing them. They adored him. He was an avid reader and always up on current events. He enjoyed his overseas trips to China (including the Great Wall), England and Norway. In his later years he was a very good resource of the earlier history of the Scranton area and took great pleasure in the home and farmstead he had developed. Marjorie remained the love of his life and they enjoyed almost 63 years of married life together. In his last days he often said, "I want to go home." He was always referring to his heavenly home which God has promised to all those who will put their trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

John was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Julia, Myrtle (Anderson), Bernice (Larson), and two brothers Maynard and Kenneth. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, now of Hettinger and his sister Selma Hedman of Bowman, ND, six children: Dianna (Richard) Kalina, Marsha (Robert) Nelson, Jacqueline (Jim) Basaraba, Randal (Debbie) Torpen, Sandra (James) Smith, and Jane (Neil) Lessman, 16 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren.