Donald Sorch Sr., Wilton, passed away March 31, 2024 at his home after a wonderful day spent with family celebrating Easter. A celebration of life will be held at Holiday Inn Bismarck located at 3903 State St., on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 12:00. Lunch will be served from 12:30 to 2:00.
Born Donald Duane Sorch on June 27, 1935 to John and Emma Sorch on the farm near Wilton, ND, he was the eldest of three sons. He attended country school through the eighth grade. As an eighth grader he seeded the entire crop on the family farm. He continued his love of farming and ranching until he was 82 when he retired. Because farmers never really retire, he was always trying to help out in anyway he could.
Donald served in the US Army Reserves for several years beginning in 1957. He met Dolores Olmsted in Bismarck and they married on June 14, 1958. They lived in Bismarck for a brief time before moving a home to their new farmstead where they still resided. They received the ND Soil Conservation Achievement award for north Burleigh county in 1973. Donald served on the Ecklund township board for 33 years from 1975 to 2008.
At 88 years old he still got in his ranger every morning to open gates for Don Jr. when feeding cattle and drop off our mail. We will miss him dearly.
Donald is survived by Dolores, his wife of 65 years; son Donald Jr. (Doreen) Sorch; daughter Cydra Dolezal; grandchildren, Ambre (Matt) Wald, Travis (Amanda) Sorch, Dusty Dolezal, Riley (Samantha) Dolezal, Taylor (Shawn) Dolezal; great grandchildren Jedidiah, Noah, Gracelyn and James Wald and Trigg Sorch. He is also survived by his brothers Lawrence Sorch, Bob Sorch; six nephews and their families.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents John and Emma Sorch, in-laws Sidney and Edith Olmsted and sister-in-law Gail Sorch.