ORVAL QUENTIN SORENSON, age 85, of Alvord, IA, and formerly of Bagley, MN, passed away Friday, March 9, 2012 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne.   He was born September 20, 1926, to Ted and Mabel Sorenson near Bagley, MN.

He served 19 months as a cook in the United States Army Transportation Corp in 1945-1946.  Upon returning from the army, he worked for Forgas Propane and Appliances, in Virginia, MN, with his brother-in-law, Al Forsland.

He was married to Mertis Aarestad on June 4, 1949, in Valley City, ND.  They made their home near Jamestown, ND, where he raised crops and dairy farmed.  In 1952, they moved to Clearwater County in Minnesota to farm and log.  Orval and Mertis raised six children.  Mertis passed away December 18, 1980.

Orval was married to Rebekah Ernsthausen Wellein on November 23, 1984.  Orval and Rebekah resided near Bagley until September 2002, at which time they moved to Alvord, IA to be near family.  Orval battled with Alzheimer's disease the last five years of his life, and in December 2011 he moved into the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne.

In his youth, Orval made his choice to serve God, which was an anchor throughout the rest of his life.  He enjoyed time with his family, fishing and hunting, children, his pets, and being a shepherd to his sheep.  He also loved music, nature, and poetry.

Orval is survived by his wife, Rebekah Sorenson, Alvord, IA; his five sons, Dan (Vicky), North Liberty, IA; Steve, Vaasa Finland; Jeff, Las Vegas, NE; Todd (Vicki), Helsinki Finland; Aaron (Sherlene), West Fargo, ND; one daughter, Sara (Jeremy) Bergh, Marion IA; two stepsons, Steve (Amy) Wellein, Troy, MI; Scott (Cindy) Wellein, Rock Rapids, IA; eighteen grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mertis; his parents; one brother, Spencer; three sisters, Stella Sorenson, Dorothy Forsland, and Ruth Branstner; and one great-grandchild, Nicholas Smith.

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