Obituary: John Broten

John Tilford Broten, 85, of Bremen, N.D., died Tuesday, August 17, 2021, at Ave Maria Village, Jamestown, N.D.

Funeral service was held on Monday, August 23 at Grandfield Lutheran Church, rural Sheyenne, N.D. Burial was at the Eden Lutheran Cemetery, rural Sheyenne, N.D. Pastor Jeff Halvorson officiated the service with special music by Mary Ellen Rue. Casket bearers were Bob Hanson, Darrell Anderson, Gary Kolsrud, Arnold Johnson, Keith Rost, Gary Westby and Lorren Jordre. Honorary pallbearers were all of Tilford's family and close friends. Military honors by Raymond B. Thorn American Legion, Post #30, New Rockford, and the North Dakota National Guard Funeral Honors Team.

John Tilford Broten was born on February 24, 1936 to John and Mabel (Tweten) Broten in Maddock, N.D. He was baptized at the South Viking Church. In 1942, his parents moved to a farm they purchased in Valhalla Township, where he started grade school at Valhalla #3. After graduating eighth grade in 1950, he attended the BCATS High School in Maddock for two years. He was baptized at and was a member of the Eden Lutheran Church until the church burned down in 2003. He then joined the Grandfield Lutheran Church.

In October 1959, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. After basic training at Fort Ord, Calif., he spent over 30 months as a mechanic at 575 Med, Amb, Sep in Ulm and Karlshrue, Germany. After he was honorably discharged in 1962, Tilford went home and took over the farm and farmed until he retired in 2000. He also operated a repair business on the farm during the winter months for 30 years.

Tilford was a member of the stream threshers in New Rockford, and a member of the VFW in Sheyenne. He served on several church boards, Eden cemetery board and served 40 years as a supervisor on the Valhalla Township board.

He is survived by his family and close friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

Arrangements by Evans Funeral Home of New Rockford, N.D.