Gerald Ernest Sorby

• Gerald E. "Jerry" Sorby, 67, Fargo, ND died in Corpus Christi, TX on March 17, 2007.

Jerry was born on September 14, 1939 in Fargo, ND to Ernest and Eleanor (Boulton) Sorby. He was raised in Felton, MN and graduated from high school in Glyndon, MN. He started working at the Glyndon Elevator as Assistant Manager.

He met Karen Steinweg and they were married March 6, 1965 at Canaan Moravian Church in rural Davenport, ND. They began their married life in Fargo where Jerry started working for NSP as a coal handler. In 1967, he began working for Cass County Electric and the family moved to Kindred, ND. He started as a lineman out in the field and worked his way up through journeyman lineman receiving the state award for the highest score during his four years of study. He spent many of his early years on the linecrew, then worked in the Engineering Dept. as Sr. Staking Engineer, and moved into Director of the West End Operations. He received the Willard Grager Achievement Award in 1994. His dedication to Cass County Electric was proven during the flood of 1997 when he had 186 men from many states under his command and worked day and night with FEMA for months after the flood. He retired in March of 1999 as Director of Safety and Fleet.

The family moved to Davenport, ND in 1983 and Jerry was very active in the Davenport Fire Department and was Fire Chief for nine years. He worked very hard at his own training and thereby the training of the volunteers in his department. He became a Cass County First Responder in 1985. Jerry had a strong community commitment and was always willing to lend a helping hand. His true passion was farming the land, helping his father-in-law, brother, and nephew. "Put a tool in Jerry's hand and he could fix anything."

He served two terms as a trustee in the Canaan Moravian Church. He loved fishing in Minnesota, deep sea fishing in Texas, and also enjoyed deer hunting in his earlier years. In their retirement years, Jerry and Karen spent their winters in Port Aransas, TX. Jerry's family was always the center of his life and there was nothing better for him than spending time with his grandsons.

He is survived by his mother: Eleanor Sorby, Moorhead, MN; wife: Karen; daughters: Juli Brewster, Fargo, Darla (Larry) Jelen, New Richmond, WI; three grandchildren: Jordan and Dakota Brewster, Fargo, ND, Jacob Jelen, New Richmond, WI;; siblings: Bonnie Sorby, Moorhead, MN, David (Lucille) Sorby, Hickson, ND, Richard (Dayna) Sorby, Glyndon, MN.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ernest Sorby.

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