Orville T. Gardner • 1908 - 2006

Orville T. Gardner, 98, Minot, ND, formerly of Portal, ND, died Wednesday, September 13, 2006, in a Minot nursing home.

Orville T. Gardner was born on August 17, 1908, the son of Timothy and Julia (Hillestad) Gardner in Ambrose, ND. He was raised on the homestead SE of Alkabo, ND, and attended Ambrose School.

Orville was married to Rose L. Olson on November 21, 1931, in Kenmare, ND. Together they raised two daughters and two sons, living in Arizona, Minnesota and finally in Portal, North Dakota.

They were members of the First Presbyterian Church, Portal, ND. They were both active with local service organizations and numerous sporting competitions throughout the years in Portal. Rose passed away June 28, 1987.

He worked on farms, construction and coal mining in his early days, as Chief of Police in Kenmare, and served the U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Department from 1940 to 1972, at Portal.

Orville married Phyllis O. Meyer on January 2, 1988. Phyllis passed away in 1992.

He enjoyed gardening, lawn bowling, shuffleboard, curling, golfing, billiards, horseshoes, and playing chess.

Surviving family includes:
sons, Allan O. (Gwen) Gardner, Lakeside, CA; and Ronald D. Gardner, and his fiancée, Deni Morgan, Payette, ID; daughter, Fay J. (Floyd) Nygaard, Mesa, AZ;
15 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; brothers, Vernon E. (Elizabeth) Gardner, Falls Church, VA, and Donald C. "Jack" Gardner, Mesa, AZ; sister, Joy Cyrus, Kenmare, ND; sister-in-law, Mille Gardner, Petersburg, FL; and several nieces and nephews.

Orville was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Rose; daughter, Janice Johnson; brother, Wilbur Gardner; and granddaughter, Jeanine Anderson.

Memorial Service: Friday, September 15, 2006, at 6:30 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Interment: Little Butte Cemetery, rural Niobe, ND.

There will be no reviewal but friends may sign the register book on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

To sign the online guest register for Orville
To view the online guest register for Orville

Back to Obituaries