October 9, 2019

Helen Jorgenson

Helen Dodge Jorgenson, 103 years old, Watford City N.D., passed away on Sept. 27, 2019, at the Baptist Home in Bismarck.
Helen was born Jan. 2, 1916, at the ranch near Dimmick Lake during a raging blizzard when her dad had to take the team of horses to go fetch the midwife. She had to walk or ride a horse to the country school that she attended. We think it was her love for horses that led her to her husband Carl whom she married on July 11, 1935. They made their home on a ranch near Watford City for several years before moving to Cook, Minn., in 1960 where they operated a dude ranch. Missing family and friends, they moved back to the Watford City area in 1980. She had a love for horses and animals of all kinds. All she had to do was go outside and the animals would come running to her.
Helen and Carl were very involved with rodeos and were members of the Badlands Saddle Club Drill Team, 50 Years in the Saddle and the Cook Saddle Club. They enjoyed dancing and playing cards with their friends. She so enjoyed spending time with her family and her good friends, Alice and Winnie and two nieces Florence and Dorothy. She loved to laugh and they would often dress up for Halloween and visit neighbors in their costumes. Helen loved to travel and enjoyed the long drives that Sue would take her on to visit the beautiful Badlands or the prairies of North Dakota.
Helen and Carl were blessed with five children Dale, Lyle, Kathi, Denver and Nevada. She was especially proud to have three of her sons inducted into the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Left to mourn her passing are her children, Lyle (Williston N.D.), Kathi Kennedy (San Antonio, Texas), Denver (Bobbi) and Nevada (Wendy) (both of Bismarck); daughter-in-law, Barb Jorgenson (Watford City); grandchildren, Tim (Sue) Jorgenson, Tom (Patti) Jorgenson, Joan Kitzmann, Kami Vidor, CJ Kennedy, Kristi (Jeff) Armstrong, Lance Jorgenson, JD (Megan) Jorgenson, Cody (Tara) Jorgenson and LeAnne (Lee) Weisbeck and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband Carl of 57 years; her son Dale; her parents, Clarence and Elsie Dodge; grandson, Troy Jorgenson; great-grandson, Josh Kitzmann; her sisters, Mabel and Myrtle; and brothers, Charles, William, Donald, Lawrence and Ed.
The family wants to thank the Baptist Home Staff for the wonderful compassionate care she received while a resident there.
A memorial service was held Sept. 30, at The Baptist Home in Bismarck.
Burial will be held at a later date.
Memorials are preferred to the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame PO Box 137, Medora, ND 58645 or www.northdakotacowboy.com

WATFORD CITY WEATHER