Orville Peter Trontvet

Orville Peter Trontvet, age 86, of Grand Forks, North Dakota and formerly Thief River Falls, Minnesota, passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2019, surrounded by his loving wife of 64 years and other family members. 

Orville was born on March 19, 1933, in Thief River Falls, Minnesota to Ole and Gunda (Rensla) Trontvet.  He graduated in 1951 from Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls.  After high school, Orville attended and graduated from Trinity College in Chicago, Illinois, where he met the love of his life, Barbara (Bobbie) Anderson.  Orville and Bobbie were married in 1955 and after living in Kentucky for a brief time they made their home in Thief River Falls, where Orville worked in management with a regional grocery wholesaler, L.B. Hartz Wholesale, for 35 years.  At age 58, Orville moved with Bobbie to Grand Forks, North Dakota and began the wonderful 28-year retirement phase of his life, enjoying focused time with his wife, children and grandchildren who he dearly loved. Outside of his vocational work, Orville was a leader in his community and church, serving on boards, leading choirs, and traveling with a group called The King’s Men, a Christian men’s group that presented the gospel message through song throughout the upper Midwest.  Orville enjoyed time with family, spending winter months in Florida near his daughter and her family, studying the Bible and books about Biblical prophecy, and doing everything possible with his wife and best friend Bobbie by his side.  Orville’s personal relationship with Jesus Christ meant more to him than anything else in the world, and he always wanted his family and others around him to enjoy that same peace, joy and hope of eternal life that he had found in Jesus.

Orville and Bobbie were blessed with two sons, Randy and Rick, and one daughter Robbin; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.  Orville is survived by his wife, Bobbie of Grand Forks, North Dakota; daughter, Robbin (Richard) Raines of Hollywood, Florida; son, Rick (Karmon) Trontvet of Warroad, Minnesota; daughter-in-law, Joycelyn Trontvet of Grand Forks, North Dakota; eight grandchildren, Shane Raines, Ryan (Angelica) Raines, Kyle (Rachel) Trontvet, Kasey (Carli) Trontvet, Karter Trontvet, Janna Trontvet, Kelsey Trontvet and Brayden (Catie) Trontvet; five great-grandchildren, Liv Raines, Harper, Jaxen, Beckett and Bennett Trontvet; brother-in-law, Floyd Dalzell; sisters-in-law, Anita Anderson, Gayle McCutchen and Jane Hauser and many nieces and nephews. 

Orville was preceded in death by his parents; son, Randy Trontvet; siblings, Norris, Janet, Gilbert, Pearl, Inga and Orvin; father-in-law, Clifford Anderson; and mother-in-law, Dorothy Anderson along with many brothers & sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. 

May Orville’s memory bring glory and honor to his Savior, Jesus Christ.

**In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family and will be given in Orville’s name to Child Evangelism Fellowship (C.E.F).

Funeral Service: 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks.

Visitation: 2:00-3:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church.  A time for sharing memories and stories will take place immediately after the service in the church.

Private Interment: Memorial Park South Cemetery, Grand Forks, ND.