Thomas Borgen

Tom passed away on September 26th, 2025, in Detroit Lakes, MN from cancer under care of Hearts in Action-Hospice at home. He was surrounded by family.

Tom was born on November 12, 1947, in Langdon, ND to Ethel (Lieber) and Carl Borgen. Tom grew up in Hannah, ND and graduated from high school in 1965.

Tom worked for the Romfo family in Hannah as a teen. After one semester at Mayville State Teachers College, he found work with Lewis Clark Construction out of Walhalla driving gravel truck.

Tom married Nola Koehmstedt in 1967. They were blessed with three beautiful girls, Holly, Heather, and Jennifer while they were in Washington state. Tom drove truck for NW Glass, Boeing and Best Way Motor Freight. He was a Shop Steward for The Teamsters Union. After fourteen years in the Seattle area the family returned to ND to work on the Koehmstedt Family Farm. Tom was active in promoting Canola in North Dakota and nationally. He was a member and past president of the Northern Canola Growers and board member of the US Canola Association. Tom was inducted in the North Dakota Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2021 for his contributions with Canola. Tom was also active in the community as a Cavalier County Commissioner.

After retiring Tom & Nola moved to Fargo, ND and he liked to spend time in Detroit Lakes flying his Czech Sportcruiser aircraft and having coffee with friends. He also enjoyed traveling to the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, WI and traveling to Florida with friends.

Tom is survived by his wife Nola (Koehmstedt), daughters Holly (Russ) Saari and her children Greg Mortensen and Kristen (Matt) Mimmick and great grandson Miles; Heather (Ted) Kiebke and her son Thomas (Alyssa) Sorum; Jennifer (Kevin) Goetz and their children Madelyn (Riley Gerding) and Elle. Also survived by siblings Shelley (Wally) Bedard and Turrie Borgen; sisters-in-law: Audrey (Bob) Austin, Pat Borgen, and Helen Borgen. Tom is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Tom was proceeded in death by parents Carl and Ethel Borgen, siblings Carl Jr, Faye (Terry) Lyons, Donald Borgen; granddaughter Megan Sorum-Larson, in-laws Stanley and Alma (Lemieux-Chaput) Koehmstedt, brothers-in-law; Denny and Jimmy Chaput.

Special thanks to Hearts in Action-Hospice for their care, especially his nurse Nikki.

Please consider making donations in Tom’s name to HIA Health, Detroit Lakes, MN or Cavalier County Cancer Crusaders, Langdon, ND.

https://www.cavaliercountycancercrusader.com

https://www.hiahealth.org/give/grateful-friends-family/

Memorial Service: Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 2:00 PM at West Funeral Home Chapel, West Fargo, ND with visitation one hour prior and reception to follow.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

westfuneralhome.com

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