David Milton Sorvig, 86, of Mentor, MN, formerly of St. Hilaire, MN, died on Saturday, December 12, 2015, at the Fair Meadow Nursing Home, Fertile.

David was born on July 11, 1929, to Otto and Agnes (Halvorson) Sorvig in St. Paul, MN. David graduated from the Crookston AC High School in 1947. He began working at Lawrence Best Electrical in Thief River Falls, MN.

On September 22, 1951, David was united in marriage to Joan Johnson in Thief River Falls. They began farming in 1951, in the Thief River Falls area. David was drafted into the United States Army on April 20, 1954. While he was in the Army, he was stationed in New Jersey, Maryland and California. David was honorably discharged on April 19, 1956.
Returning to St. Hilaire, David purchased St. Hilaire Implement and started a tank manufacturing division. In 1959, David started St. Hilaire Supply, offering plumbing supplies to the region. As his boys grew up, they purchased the business allowing David to retire in 1975.

David moved to Oakhurst, CA, where he began a Thrift Store and worked as a Ski Instructor, and member of the volunteer search and rescue team. In 1981, David moved to Ennis, MT, where he met and married Claudia Mae Breshears on June 5, 1987, in Bozeman, MT. They moved to Blue Springs, MO, and he was employed by Augustine Medical as a mechanical engineer. To be closer to family, David and Claudia moved to Maple Lake, MN, where they settled into retirement life in 1991. On January 2, 2015, David entered Pioneer Memorial Home, Erskine, MN and in May, he entered the Fair Meadow Nursing Home.

David was an active and willing leader and member of several organizations. He served as a Boy Scout Leader, Volunteer Firefighter, and member of Rotary Club. At Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, he served as a longtime Sunday School teacher. While living on Maple Lake, David served at the Polk County Fair as a Volunteer, with the Mentor American Legion, on the Maple Lake Association, and Sundog Drifters Snowmobile Club. He was also an active member of Maple Bay Free Lutheran Church.

David truly enjoyed being active in the outdoors. Hunting, sailing, water and snow skiing, as well as golfing kept him busy. He also was an accomplished woodworker and enjoyed travel adventures. David was a man of faith who cherished his family.

David is survived by his wife, Claudia Sorvig, Mentor, MN; children: David P. (Sue Nelson) Sorvig, Williams, MN; Joel ( Lori ) Sorvig, Thief River Falls, MN; Timothy (Deanna) Sorvig, Thief River Falls, MN; Gary (Shelby) Sorvig, St Hilaire, MN; Bette Spaulding, Ennis, MT; step-children: Deena Pederson, Ennis, MT; Chris Dotson, Anaconda, MT; 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; two sisters: Joann (Fred) Ostby, Pelham, AL, and Evelyn (Don) Radzak, Brooklyn Park, MN; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter: Bette Jo Sorvig; infant baby, John Mitchel Sorvig; two brothers: Ray and Robert, one sister, Carol Lindsay and one daughter-in-law, Frances Sorvig.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Maple Bay Free Lutheran Church, or a Cancer or Alzheimer association.

Funeral Service: 11 AM Friday, December 18, 2015 at Maple Bay Free Lutheran Church, Maple Bay, MN.

Visitation will be on Thursday, December 17, 2015 from 5-7 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM in the Maple Bay Free Lutheran Church, Maple Bay, MN.

Burial will be in the Maple Bay Free Lutheran Cemetery, Maple Bay, MN.