Lorry M. Brothen

Feb. 22, 1913-May 11, 2009

Lorry M. Brothen, 96, formerly of Minot, died in Fargo on Monday, May 11, 2009.

He was born on Feb. 22, 1913, in Columbus to Carl and Randi (Hallum) Brothen. He attended school in Columbus and assisted his father in the operation of their family farm. During the Depression years he worked in Chicago for the Marshall Field Co. He then returned to North Dakota during World War II to help his father farm as three older brothers had been called to duty in Europe.

After the war, Lorry moved to Minot, where he and his brother, Clarence Brothen, built and operated the Brothen Motel. They also owned and operated a Standard Oil service station in conjunction with the motel. They sold these businesses 22 years later to begin building homes in the Minot area. Later, Lorry was employed teaching vocational school in the Belcourt area and was involved in the construction of several Minuteman Missile sites in North Dakota.

Lorry married Edna Franz on Oct. 1, 1949. She survives Lorry and resides in Fargo at Edgewood Village. Lorry was a longtime member of Bethany Lutheran Church, Minot, where he was involved in many activities. With his brother he helped construct the church booth for the North Dakota State Fair. A proud Norwegian, he regularly volunteered at Bethany's annual lutefisk dinner and baked biscuits for the Norsk Hostfest celebration in Minot.

Lorry loved the outdoors and throughout his lifetime enjoyed activities such as trapping, hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed pitching horseshoes, bowling and gardening. One of his last requests prior to his death was to "water some flowers."

Survivors include: his wife, Edna, Fargo; son, Elair (Joyce) Brothen, Fargo; granddaughters, Merritt Brothen, Minneapolis, Mallory Brothen, Fargo; and two brothers, Magne (Betty) Brothen, Minot, and Ed (Helen) Brothen, Brooklyn Park, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Alvin, Clarence, Palmer and Evald.

Visitation: Thursday, May 21, 2009, from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Funeral service: Friday, May 22, at 10:30 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, Minot.

Burial: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.

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