Curtis Teigen
Aug. 4, 1938-April 21, 2018
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