Barry Borstad, age 74, died January 26, 2024 due to complications from Progressive Supernuclear Palsy (PSP), a Parkinson type disease. A memorial service will be held at 11:00AM on Tuesday, February 06, 2024 at the Bismarck Funeral Home 3723 Lockport Street Bismarck, North Dakota.
Barry was born on August 7, 1949 in Langdon, North Dakota to Blanding and Mavis (Christianson) Borstad. He spent his first few years on a farm near Devils Lake and attended a one room school where he was the only student in first grade. Later he and his family moved to Minot. He attended Minot public schools and then Minot State University where he met his future wife, Karen Abel. After graduating they married, lived in Minot, Mandan and finally Bismarck where he built his own home.
Barry paid for his college by working as a carpenter during the summers. After graduation from college, he worked briefly as a Job Corp Representative then acquired a job as a self-help housing coordinator for a federal grant program helping people to build their own homes. Later, he was employed for 40 years by Rural Development, a subdivision of Farmers Home Administration. During his employment there he was a construction inspector for construction funded by federal loans, a constructions analyst which entailed checking blue prints for federal housing loans and grants and a loan officer specialist that administered approval of federal loans that financed construction of single family homes.
Barry enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, spending time with grandkids, working with Boy Scout programs and browsing rummage sales. While involved with the scouting program he earned several awards. Among the awards were District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver Award, Leadership Training as well as several commendations on camporalls, camps, and Boy Scout Centennial Celebration at the ND State Capitol where he severed in various capacities. Although not an official award, Barry was Scoutmaster of Troop 2 for several years and served on the Eagle Scout Board of Review which were both jobs he enjoyed immensely.
He is survived by his wife, Karen; daughter Biana Borstad; sons, Josh (Becky) Borstad and Brett (Leilani) Borstad; grandchildren, Katie, Alana and Bjorn. Barry is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and lastly his best friend/hunting and fishing partner/all around buddy, Kip Greig.
Barry was proceeded in death by his parents Mavis and Blanding, older brother Skip (Blanding Jr.) and daughter-in-law Heidi (Jacobs) Borstad.