Tom Borgen

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on April 11, 2026, at West Funeral Home in West Fargo, N.D., with visitation one hour prior and reception to follow for Tom Borgen, who passed away September 26, 2025, in Detroit Lakes, Minn. Tom died from cancer at home surrounded by family under the care of Hearts in Action-Hospice.

Tom was born on November 12, 1947, in Langdon, N.D., to Ethel (Lieber) and Carl Borgen. Tom grew up in Hannah, N.D., 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 14 years in the Seattle area, the family returned to N.D. 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 U.S. Canola Association. He was inducted into 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 and Nola moved to Fargo, N.D., 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, Wisc., 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; siblings Shelley (Wally) Bedard and Turrie Borgen; sisters-in-law: Audrey (Bob) Austin, Pat Borgen, and Helen Borgen; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Tom was preceded 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; and 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, Minn. or Cavalier County Cancer Crusaders, Langdon, N.D. https://www.cavaliercountycancercrusader. com https://www.hiahealth.org/give/ grateful-friends-family/ West Funeral Home and Life Tribute Center is in charge of arrangements.