Orville Rydquist

Orville Rydquist, 97, Breckenridge, MN, formerly Wahpeton, ND, passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2015 at his residence at Twin Town Villa, Breckenridge. Funeral services will be on Thursday, May 7, at 12:30 PM at Willow Creek Chapel, Wahpeton with Rev. Jule` Ballinger officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery, Lisbon, ND. Arrangements are entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND.

Orville was born on November 5, 1917 in Turton, SD to Charles and Neva (Wells) Rydquist. In 1919, the family moved to Isley Township, Ransom County, ND. He went to school and graduated from Cleveland Consolidated School in 1936. In 1937, he joined the Civil Conservation Corps and worked at Itasca State Park in Minnesota. He then went to Helena, MT and Oregon working various jobs along the way. In May of 1942, Orville entered the US Army and served in the North Africa and European Theatres during WWII.

After his discharge Orville returned home and was united in marriage to Germaine Beem on February 2, 1946 in Lisbon, ND. He then began his employment with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company at Leonard, ND. They also lived in Lisbon, Gwinner, and Forman before moving to Wahpeton in 1954, where he became the Construction Manager for the telephone company working in Richland, Ransom, and Sargent Counties. After retiring from the telephone company in 1976 he was employed with Rick Electric in Moorhead, MN for five years. He was also employed as a bus driver for Wahpeton Senior Citizens and Med Van for many years.

Orville was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church, American Legion, BPO Elks, CCC, Telephone Pioneers, and Wahpeton Senior Citizens. He was an accomplished wood carver who made many detailed items in miniature, including a scale model of his house. He very much enjoyed the time spent on Star Lake with his family.

Orville is survived by his wife, Germaine, Breckenridge, MN; his son, Chuck (Sharol) Rydquist, Maple Grove, MN; his daughter, Kathy (Larry) Oberg, Brooksville, FL; seven grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; three great great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Neva Rydquist, three brothers, Bill, Roy, and Clair Rydquist, and two sisters, Ruth Mapes, and Lorraine Woods.