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BISMARCK - Bill Sorensen, an entertainer who helped shape Medora's identity, has died.
According to Eastgate Funeral Service in Bismarck, Sorensen, 76, of Bismarck, died Oct. 31. A memorial service has been scheduled for Monday, Nov. 9, at 10:30 a.m. in Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bismarck.
"For five decades, Bill was the beating heart of Medora's entertainment," the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation stated in a tribute. "Performing in more than 1,000 shows, including the Medora Musical, he left an indelible mark on millions of showgoers who were lifted by his warmth, quick wit, and mischievous magic."
The foundation also noted Sorensen had delivered an impactful message at the Medora Gospel Brunch for the past 10 years.
"Few individuals in North Dakota history have shared their gifts so generously or shaped a community's identity so completely," the foundation stated. “Though the curtain has fallen on a storied life, Bill's presence remains permanently woven into the fabric of Medora. His spirit endures on the Sorensen Stage at the Old Town Hall Theater, throughout the festive tradition of his A Magical Medora Christmas tour, and in the cherished stories told by all who saw him perform."
Sorensen had entertained as a magician and served on the Bismarck City Commission and as Bismarck's mayor. He also managed professional boxer Virgil Hill, who had grown up in North Dakota.