Curtis Teigen

Curtis LaVerne Teigen,

79, Rugby, died on Satur-

day, April 21, 2018 at

Trinity Hospital in Minot,

North Dakota.

Curt was born on Au-

gust 4, 1938 in Rugby and

grew up on a farm near

Berwick. He was very

proud of his early educa-

tion he received in the

Berwick school and gra-

duated from Rugby High

School in 1956. While in

school he was an active

team member playing

basketball, football, and

track. During his high

school years he was part

of the Future Farmers of

America and served as a

state officer, named the

FFA American Farmer,

and placed second in the

state public speaking con-

test.

He also enlisted in the

North Dakota Army Na-

tional Guard unit in Rug-

by while in high school,

which he continued into

his college years. After

high school graduation,

Curt enrolled in North

Dakota State University

and graduated Summa

Cum Laude with a

Bachelor’s Degree in Agri-

cultural Sciences.

During this time he

married Bonny Corrine

Gunderson in Rugby on

August 18, 1957. They

moved to Rolette where

he taught vocational agri-

culture at the Rolette High

School for 4 years

(1961-1965).

He and Bonny farmed

in Pierce County –

Christenson Township for

a time. For over 25 years

he was employed at Rug-

by Equipment, Inc. After

his first retirement he was

on the staff of Merchants

Bank for over 10 years,

eventually as president of

the bank. After his final

retirement he and Bonny

lived in Rugby and at a

home in Sentinel Butte,

North Dakota.

Curt gave a very large

part of his life to public

service by his service to

the City of Rugby with

several terms as a Coun-

cil Member and the vari-

ous regional committees.

He served a term as May-

or in 1990. In addition he

served on the Economic

Development Corporation,

Rugby Ambulance Board,

and the council of First

Lutheran Church includ-

ing congregation

president of which he was

a member. Curt also had a

dream of constructing a

jail, which now operates

as the Heart of America

Correctional Center.

To say that Curt collect-

ed things would be an

understatement. He gath-

ered up countless John

Deere toy tractors as a

member of the Toy Trac-

tors Association, and oth-

er items associated with

John Deere. Curt enjoyed

tracking down sports

memorabilia and seeking

autographs from sports

celebrities. The Teigen

home is decorated with

wildlife art and includes

entomology specimens

from his college days. But

most of all, Curt support-

ed, without fail, the Rug-

by High School Panthers

athletic programs.

Curt’s family are: his

wife Bonny, and two chil-

dren David and his wife

Madeleine Teigen – Sa-

cramento, California and

Curt Jr. and his wife

Shannon – Devils Lake.

Six grandchildren will

miss their grandfather,

Shelby, Kaelyn, Jackson,

Lindsey, Ryan, and An-

drew. Curt also leaves a

brother, Clinton Teigen –

Austin, Minnesota.

He as preceded in

death by: their daughter,

Tanis in 1992, and a

brother, Calvin, in 2003.

Funeral services will be

held on Thursday, April

26, 2018 at 2:30 P.M. at

First Lutheran Church in

Rugby with Rev. Michael

Pretzer and Rev. Sharon

Baker officiating.

Interment will be in

Persilla Watts Cemetery in

Rugby.

Niewoehner Funeral

Home – Rugby

776-6222