Ric Sorenson

Ric Sorenson, age 67, of Fosston, MN passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 9th at Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine, MN. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday (October 19th) at Kingo Lutheran Church in Fosston with the Rev. John Dalen officiating. Family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston and messages of condolence may be sent at carlinhoialmen.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Ric Sorenson Arts Scholarship or Pioneer Memorial Care Center.Ricky Dorn Sorenson "Ric" was born the second of 2 children on March 7, 1946 in Warren, Minnesota to parents Avis Irene (Dykeman) and Delmer "Adorn" Sorenson. Ric was raised in Warren, Minnesota where he attended Warren High School, and enjoyed participating in choir and band. He and his dad helped create the Warren Riding Stable, and Ric spent a lot of time tending to his horse "Tammy".Upon graduation from WHS, he attended the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, receiving a Bachelor degree in art education and later a Master in Fine Arts. In the fall of 1968 he was hired by Fosston's Superintendent Arvid Magelssen after he was interviewed for the teaching position in the back of the bus at a gas station where Superintendent Magelssen had driven a bus to Grand Forks for repairs. Ric also worked for 2 years as an art teacher at the Rochester Arts Center, Rochester, Minnesota where he met and became a part of the Judy and Burton Onofrio family. Ric retired from the Fosston school district in 2000.The Fosston district had an unusually high number of students going on to pursue a degree in visual art due to Ric's influence.Ric married Bernadette (Huls) Sorenson on September 2nd, 1967 in Jamestown, North Dakota. At that time they were both attending UND and enjoying an uncomplicated and simple life living in married student housing.Ric's main interests in life were his family, his students, his art, his many many dogs, and his mule Cricket.He and his wife received the Fosston Service Award in 2001. He received the Art Educator of Minnesota Award in 1997, Secondary Art Educator of the Year in 1990, 1988 Art Educators Visual Art Program Award, and was nominated for the Minnesota Teacher of the Year 1988. He served 10 years as president on the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council and received the 2013 Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year Award.Ric dedicated 20 years of volunteer service to the American Field Service (AFS)program promoting peace one person at a time. His family hosted many AFS students who became members of the family. He and Bernadette received the American Field Service Venum Founders Award in 2004 for care and understanding of every student hosted in the Pine to Prairie Region and their commitment in leadership and the encouragement they have shown to others.On Wedenesday, October 9, 2013 Ric passed away peacefully at Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine, MN at the age of 67 years.He is survived by his wife, Bernadette, and 2 children, a son and daughter and 3 grandchildren. Lucia (Keith) Brovold of Fosston, and Tristan (Stacy) Sorenson of Lengby. He has 3 wonderful grandchildren who are full of life, Taylor Brovold, and Brayden and Carter Sorenson.He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother Gary Lee Sorenson.