Gordon Miller Svenningsen was born on October 17, 1930, to Kristine and Soren Svenningsen. Gordy was the youngest of ten children. His family lived and farmed north of Valley City and Gordy graduated from Luverne High School. On June 8, 1952, he married Ranee Germundson and the couple moved to a farm three miles south of Luverne.

Gordy loved farming and ranching, and he served his community as a school board member, supervisor on the township board for many years, church board member at the Luverne Lutheran Church, and a 4H leader. Gordy and Ranee also loved to dance. Gordy was very loyal to John Deere equipment and Ford vehicles. He was an avid pinochle player and enjoyed playing with family and friends. After retiring from farming, the couple moved to Valley City.

Gordy is survived by his wife, Ranee, of 73 years; three sons: Mark (Jody) Svenningsen, Greg (Marcy) Svenningsen, and Rodd (Debbie) Svenningsen; two daughters: Wendy Breitbach and Tracy (Loren) Hovel; twelve grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, nine siblings: Inger (Hank) Kunze; Vernon (Barb) Svenningsen; Inez Svenningsen; Svend (Shirley) Svenningsen; Lila (Allen) Olson; Ruth (John) Emery; Robert (Beverly) Svenningsen; Betty (Harvey) Eggert and an infant brother, John.

There will be visitation at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Valley City on Tuesday night, May 5th, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service to follow. The funeral service will be on Wednesday, May 6th at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church with lunch to follow and burial at the Luverne Cemetery after lunch.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Traditions Funeral Services, Valley City, ND. An online guestbook is available at www.olivernathanchapel.com