Marlan Sorenson

Marlan Sorenson, 82, passed away peacefully on December 25, 2024.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, January 3, 2025, at McCabe United Methodist, 1030 N 6th Street, Bismarck. A recording of Marlin’s service is available here: https://www.youtube.com/live/9aipn7TZgQ4?si=SkI5I_xOnmqXDDkS

Visitation will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 PM, Thursday, January 2, 2025, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E Divide Ave, Bismarck. 

Marlan Sheldon Sorenson was born on October 27, 1942, to Harold J. and Anna (Moe) Sorenson in Plentywood, MT. He was raised in the Plentywood and Antelope, MT area, working on his parent’s farm, growing wheat, raising sheep, and learning how to fix cars & machinery. He graduated from Plentywood High School in 1960. After graduation, he joined the National Guard and went to IBM Business School in CA. In September 1962, Marlan went to Billings Business College, where he met his future wife, Sharon Penn. 

On May 29, 1963, Marlan and Sharon were married. The next day, they were in a major car accident that laid him up for several months. After he recovered, they moved to Miles City, MT, where their first two daughters, Sandi & Shari, were born.

In 1968, the family moved to Bismarck, where Marlan worked for Gold Seal Co. It was then that they were introduced to the very special city of Medora and Teddy Roosevelt National Park. Daughter #3, Cindy, arrived in 1970 to complete the family. Marlan was totally outnumbered by his girls, but he liked it that way! Many family trips followed over the years with cherished memories of camping and attending the Medora musical. 

In 1978, Marlan went to work at MDU until his retirement in 2003. During the 1970s, he picked up two favorite hobbies: photography and square dancing. He took many wedding, family, and senior photos and loved to capture genuine smiles. Square dancing with Sharon was a 40-year adventure filled with wonderful long-time friendships and travels. He served as president of the square dance clubs and chaired state & international conventions off and on over the years. He took pride in his role in having square dancing declared as the official state dance in 1995 by the ND Legislature. 

Marlan & Sharon loved playing cards with friends and taking annual camping trips with his girls to Moose Mountain, Saskatchewan, Canada, and Detroit Lakes. He loved listening to music, whether attending his girls’ choir/band concerts and piano recitals, listening to his granddaughters play their violins, music from the 50s and 60s, patriotic music, accordion music, and any music on the Lawrence Welk show. After their girls were grown, Marlan & Sharon continued to enjoy life together, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 2013.

After Sharon’s death in 2014 and brain surgery that same year, Marlan was finding a new path in life. At that time, he was a tour guide at the ND State Capital, a job he loved because it combined two of his favorite things: patriotic pride in his state and country and meeting and visiting with people.

In late 2018, Marlan reconnected with a high school classmate via Facebook. By the fall of 2019, Marlan and Joan Blythe were married. They weathered the COVID season, and although their time together was shorter than they had hoped, they both treasured the years they had spent together. They divorced in early 2023 but remained close until Marlan’s death.

Marlan is survived by daughters Sandi (Jeff) Berger of Woodbury MN, Shari (Brent) Frueh of Byron MN, and Cindy Sorenson of Bismarck ND; grandchildren Joshua Berger, Samuel (Megan) Berger, Jordan (Lindsey) Berger, Jessica (Christopher) Erickson, Stuart (Jessica) Berger, Emily (Michael) Stephens, Eric (Jilian) Frueh, and Sarah Bruschwein; great-grandchildren Cora Berger, Seth & Colin Berger, Laven & Kendrix Berger, Margaret, Abigail, Lucille, Isaac Erickson, Chloe & Edwin Berger, Brenno & Holland Stephens, Kinsley & Koster Frueh; nephews Ken (Kay) Penn and Wade LaFlamme, niece Kelly (Mike) Padgett; former son-in-law David Bruschwein; and ex-wife Joan (Blythe) Sorenson.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Sharon; his parents; and Maynard Johnson, a first cousin who was like a big brother to him.