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Portrait of Donald Clifford Sorensen
In loving memory

Donald Clifford Sorensen

September 18, 1937 – January 19, 2022
Lived 84 years
Halliday, ND
Use your head more than a damn hat rack
Life story

Donald rode off into his final sunset Wednesday, January 19, 2022. Born in Halliday, on September 18, 1937, he was the second of five children born to Christian (Chris) and Marguerite (Lynch) Sorensen.

Don met his forever sweetheart, Jacqueline Schettler in Halliday, and married her June 21, 1954. Over the years the couple welcomed three children Don Jr., Denise, and Doug and were later blessed with six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Don was hard working. He was a ranch hand; worked construction for the family business, Sorensen Brothers; owned the old Texaco Service station in Halliday; drove the Halliday School bus route; and drove semi for companies like Koch, Flat Broke Trucking and Double S Trucking (of which he was part owner). Clif Mossett said that Don was the youngest cowboy on the last big cattle drive before they flooded the river. Don always remarked that they ruined the land by the flooding.

Don enjoyed NASCAR, hunting; yardwork (including working on lawn mowers); and tinkering on vehicles. He loved all things western from watching movies and television shows to rodeo, roping and breaking horses. He was described as the epitome of John Wayne, often reminding others of the on-screen persona. A man of strong convictions from which he never wavered. A man of honesty, incapable of telling a lie. A force whose presence in a room did not go unnoticed. A good friend and conversationalist. He loved deeply, practically, yet covertly. We thought him indestructible.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Christian and Marguerite Sorensen, In-laws, John and Agatha Schettler; Brother and sister-in-law, Howard (Wayne) and Beth Sorensen; Sister and brother-in-law, Billie (Faye) and Gary Frafford; Sister, Joy Burr; Brother and sister-in-law Delbert and Katherine (Kay) Schettler, Brother and sister-in-law Donald and Kathlene (Kay) Voigt, and grandson Shannon Dean Wolf.

He is survived by his bride of 67 years, Jacqueline (Jacky); Children: Donald Sorensen Jr., Denise (Dennis) Bohrer, and Douglas (Merlein) Sorensen; Grandchildren: Heather (Chris) Gerard, Tally (Cody) Kleemann, Tyrel (Erin) Sorensen, Payden Sorensen and John Sorensen; Great-Grandchildren: Seth Wolf; Hatten Kleemann, MaKlain Kleemann, Anistyn Sorensen, Martin Kleemann, Cree Sorensen, Huxley Sorensen, Holte Sorensen, Hayze Sorensen and Remington Sorensen; Brother: Daryl Sorensen; Brother-in-law: Evan Burr; Sisters-in-law: Carole (Louis) Treiber, and Marlene (Roger) Ives; Brother-in-law: Jerry (Anne) Schettler and numerous nieces and nephews

Photos
Photo book

Donald’s life, in a printed book

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Lifetime

The world Donald knew

Family milestones in gold, history for context

1937
Born September 18
1939
Donald was 2 when "The Wizard of Oz" opened in theaters
1944
Donald was 7 when Allied troops landed at Normandy on D-Day
1959
Donald was 22 when Barbie made her debut
1962
Donald was 25 when the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war
1976
Donald was 39 when America celebrated its Bicentennial
1981
Donald was 44 when MTV began broadcasting
1998
Donald was 61 when "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was published in America
2001
Donald was 64 when Apple introduced the iPod
2015
Donald was 78 when "Hamilton" opened on Broadway
2021
Donald was 84 when the James Webb Space Telescope was launched
2022
Passed away January 19, age 84
Tributes and memories

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Payden Sorensen 116w

Grandpa

I miss you alot but Cree and Remington miss you more!! They ask about you every day. They didn’t want to go to church or bible study, I explained if you don’t learn about Jesus’s journey and why he died for us they wouldn’t be able to see you again. Now they happily go and tell me about Jesus and that you walk with him :)

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