Dr. David Sorgen

Dr. David Sorgen, 84, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 7, 2023. He was born on November 22, 1938, to parents Pastor Sanford and Vilgard Sorgen in Minot, North Dakota. His childhood years were spent in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Valley City, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota. He graduated from Oak Grove High School and Concordia College, where he met and was married to classmate Lois Larson in 1961.

Dave went on to complete medical school at the University of Tennessee followed by an internship from 1965-1966 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. He then served two years in the U.S. Public Health Service by joining the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he worked at the TB hospital for the Navajo and Pueblo Indians from 1966-1968, wearing the uniform of Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy. Living in New Mexico inspired his lifelong passion for Southwestern art. After his service, he returned to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, where he did his residency in ophthalmology from 1968-1972 and where his three children (Jeff, Tim, and Suzie) were born.

Dave and his young family moved to Fargo in 1972, where he practiced for over 30 years at the Fargo Clinic/MeritCare Health System doing what he loved - caring for patients. In 1987, he married Beverley (Knutson) (Grove) and together they blended their families and shared 35 years of marriage.

Upon retirement, Dave fed his voracious appetite for learning through travel, birdwatching all over the globe, listening to music, and embracing technology. As testament to Dave as a skilled and compassionate physician, he could hardly go anywhere without encountering grateful former patients and their families. Dave and Bev spent each summer at their cabin on Loon Lake where he filled his days with landscaping, grilling, pontoon rides, storytelling, naps, and many visits from friends and family. Perhaps Dave’s most passionate lake activity was taking meticulous and loving care of the two loons who returned to nest and raise their babies each summer.

Dave served in so many roles: trusted doctor to his patients, husband, father, stepfather, and “Papa” to the grandkids; he was a good and kind friend to many. He shared his passions with his extended family, taking them on road trips, camping trips, ski trips, and eternal and enjoyable hours at sushi bars. No matter where he was, there was always room for kindness, jokes, and lots of hearty laughter.

Dave is survived by wife Bev; children, Jeff Sorgen, Tim (Jasmin) Sorgen, Suzie (Jim) Miller, Trish (Chris) Adams and Mike (Melissa) Grove; grandchildren, Spencer (Julie), Elliot, Luke, Cole, Kate, Kellyn and Maceo, and great-grandson, Mason; and brothers, Dan (Kitty) and Steve (Jeannie).

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (stjude.org) or Ducks Unlimited (ducks.org).

Funeral service for Dave will be held Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at 11 a.m. in Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, Minnesota.  Visitation will be one hour prior to his service.  Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Fargo, North Dakota.  Dave’s service will be livestreamed on his obituary page at www.korsmofuneralservice.com.