Gordon L. Urseth

Gordon L. "Gordy" Urseth, 73, Grand Forks, ND died Wednesday, April 15, 2009 in Altru Hospital of Grand Forks, ND Gordon was born August 15, 1935 in Grand Forks, ND the son of John and Bertha (Dubourt) Urseth. He was raised and educated in Grand Forks, ND and graduated from Central High School in 1953. He attended college in Wahpeton, ND before joining the U.S. Navy where he achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He served aboard the USS Rankin, the USS Shangri La and the USS Enterprise which was the first nuclear powered carrier. Gordy assisted in commissioning of the Enterprise. He served during the Cuban Missile Crisis and was stationed many places over the world including Turkey and Italy. Gordy loved the Navy but an injury forced him to leave his service. He graduated from college at Wahpeton where he was on the dean's list. He owned and operated Gordy's Transmission Shop in Erskine, MN. He worked as a mechanic for Getter Trucking of Williston, ND and later for Marvin Windows of Warroad, MN. Gordy was a maintenance worker for Motel 6 at Ely, NV and later moved to Las Vegas where he worked for the newspaper and for Cadillac of Las Vegas. He returned to Grand Forks two years ago. Gordy married Shirley Streich in 1959 in Warren, MN. He married Janice Hamre on April 18, 1980 at Erskine, MN. She survives along with his mother, Bertha, Grand Forks; sons, Steven (Michelle) Urseth, Manvel, ND and James, Pequot Lakes, MN; step-daughter, Mary Jo (Charles) Kittleson, Roseau, MN; six grandchildren; one great grandchild; sister, Jackie Wurzbacher, Grand Forks, ND. He was preceded in death by his father and a son Matthew.