JUDITH SORLIEN

Judith Sorlien Judith Sorlien was born in Golden Lake Township, Steele County ND on February 9, 1921 to Manda and John A. Engen. Manda died during Judy’s childhood, and her father then married Florence (Carlson). Growing up, she joined her siblings in performing with the locally renowned Engen Family Band. She graduated from Finley High School, and later earned her Teacher’s Certificate from Mayville State College. She taught at rural, one-room schools in Primrose, Franklin and Greenview townships. Judy married Vernon Henrickson in 1942, and they raised 4 children: Bonita, Richard, Gail and Jay. Judy and Vernon farmed in Steele County until 1968. While living in Greenview Township, Judy was Director of the Sheyenne Valley Lutheran Church Youth Choir, an activity she was very proud of through the years. To this day, many of the choir members say they can still sing their part to Beautiful Savior without needing to look at the book! She also taught Sunday School there. Vernon Henrickson died in 1969. Judy married Nordeen Sorlien in 1971, and they made their home in Finley. When her son Richard died in 1973, Judy and Nordeen became guardians of Battina and Benjamin Henrickson and thoroughly enjoyed their roles as ‘new’ parents. Judy especially cherished their occasional car trips across the country with Tina and Ben as they grew, and then watching them become parents of their own. For many years, Judy was active in the Finley’s Eastern Star and American Legion Auxiliary. Her family has many memories of her love of music, her special donuts and buns (as well as all of her cooking and baking), and of watching her enjoy the antics of her great-grandchildren. Nordeen died in 2011. Judy became a resident of Meadow Lark Lane at the Luther Memorial Home in Mayville ND in the summer of 2011 and passed away there on December 6, 2013. She was lovingly cared for by the greatest caregivers in the world! Even though Dementia took away so many of her memories, and even her ability to communicate, when a volunteer was playing a familiar tune, or a favorite piece of music was coming from her CD player, she would amaze everyone by singing every word … God’s gift of music to her was everlasting! Judy was preceded in death by Vernon, Nordeen, son Richard and son Benjamin, 3 brothers and 3 sisters. She is survived by daughters Tina (Darin) Hoffman of Finley ND, Bonita (Carl) Hopkins of Gainesville GA, and Gail Mick of Newnan GA, son Jay (Delores) Henrickson of Mayville ND, stepdaughter Diane Rutherford, Vancouver WA, stepsons Terry and Jeffrey Sorlien of Frazee MN, sisters Marcella Clemens of Seattle WA and Francis Flynn of Fargo; 17 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. Funeral services will be Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at 2:00 pm in the Finley Lutheran Church, Finley, ND. Visitation will be Wednesday from 12:30 till 2:00 in the Church. Interment will be in the Finley Cemetery, Finley, ND in the spring.