Gerald Lee Borgen

Gerald Lee Borgen, 81, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend and neighbor went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, surrounded by his family and loved ones.

Lee was born March 24, 1937, in Wolf Point, Mont., to Helen (Janzen) and Gerhard Borgen. He attended grade school in the Cottonwood Community north of Frazer and graduated from Frazer High School in 1956. While a lifelong farmer, rancher and musician, he was a family man first.

Lee took his future bride, Barbara Kay Bjorgo, on their first date on Valentine’s Day 1957 and they were married seven months later on Sept. 8, 1957. They had four children: Eva Jean “Jeannie,” Dale Lee, Verlin Anerd, and Doreen Marie. He and Barb loved spending time with their 11 grandchildren and many sleepovers were had at their home. As his health declined, his 14 great-grandchildren never failed to bring a smile to his face.

Lee took over the farm in 1955, as a high school senior, after his father, brother and grandmother had been killed in a car accident. He farmed and ranched throughout his life. Lee worked at Glasgow Ready Mix in the fall after graduating high school, pouring concrete for the Glasgow Air Force Base. He worked there during the winter months for seven years, while farming in the summer. He and Barb settled on a farm in the Grain Community north of Nashua where they raised their children. He was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church of Grain since 1961, serving on the board and playing an active role in church leadership. He was a member of the Valley Ridgerunner’s Saddle Club and the Elks Club for many years. Lee was a cultivator of the land, growing wheat, raising cattle, and harvesting around Montana and eventually the Great Plains throughout his life. He was a talented mechanic and fabricator, building trailers and a self-propelled grain cart. He loved tinkering in the shop and found an artistic calling as a welder and woodworker. He learned guitar early and began playing for dances in eighth- grade. His love of music continued throughout his life and he was often heard singing in church and jamming with friends and relatives He passed his love of music to his children and grandchildren and taught several family members how to play guitar.

He is preceded in death by his parents Gerhard and Helen Borgen; and two brothers, Verlin and Norbert.

He is survived by his wife Barbara; daughter Jeannie (Paul) Malek; son Dale (Donna) Borgen; son Verlin Borgen; daughter Doreen (James) McKenney; 11 grandchildren, Janie, Justin, Whitney, Alan, Blair, Haylee, Roy, Logan, Brittany, Darbi, and Kelsey; and 14 great-grandchildren, Keagan, Finley, Alanna, Heaston, Hunter, Kila, Chloe, Kelden, Rowen, Emma, Kaylan, Grace, Nolan, Saylor and one more on the way.

Funeral services for Lee were held on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow with burial in Highland Cemetery.