Photo courtesy of Nelson Funeral Home - Maddock
May 23, 1924 - Feb 1, 2022 (Age 97)
Your son Gary and I enjoyed sharing stories of Harry and my own father Warren Larsen. And I was very happy to share a day of fishing with you on Devils Lake in 2013.
Larry Larsen
February 04, 2022 | Riverton, WY | Friend
Loved getting to know Harris when I worked at Heartland. He will be missed! Good, faithful servant who loved the Lord.
Rachel Johnson
February 02, 2022 | ND
Harris, you served our country with everything you believed in, you were a devoted train engineer who took utter responsibility in doing your best job, you were a loving husband, & a father who loved his sons. You were a fun cousin who we had lots of great visits. Now I am assured that you have your arms around Eileen once more telling her that she is your favorite blonde!!! I thank God for you!!!
Rachel Togstad-Axness
February 02, 2022 | Des Lacs, ND | Family
God Bless the memory of Harris, cousin and friend.
KRISTIN & TIM KALLENBACH
February 01, 2022 | Maddock, ND | Family
Harris M. Togstad, 97, of Maddock, ND, passed away Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at Eventide Heartland Care Center in Devils Lake, ND. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at North Viking Lutheran Church with Pastor Cassie Borges officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. Military Honors provided by the Theodore A. Togstad American Legion Post #123 of Maddock, Robert Tovsrud VFW Post #757 of Harlow and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Burial will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery: 1825 46th Street Mandan, ND 58554.
Harris Marvin Togstad was born May 23, 1924 in rural Maddock to Edwin and Minnie (Ploium) Togstad. He enlisted in the United States Navy in January of 1943. Harris served in the South Pacific during World War II, where he contracted malaria. He was honorably discharged in March of 1946.
Harris was very proud to be a part of the last class certified as Steam Engineer, in the Great Northern Railway Dakota Division. He went to work for the Great Northern Railroad as a locomotive fireman in Minot, ND in December of 1947 and retired as a locomotive engineer from Burlington Northern Railroad in March of 1983.
Harris married Eileen Torvik of Powers Lake, ND on December 21, 1951 at Zion Lutheran Church in Minot. The couple made their home in Minot until moving to Maddock in 1994. Eileen Passed away on May 25, 2002.
Harris was a member and served on the council of North Viking Lutheran Church since 1946, and a life member of the William G. Carrol American Legion Post #26 in Minot. He served there as post commander in the 1970’s, two years as North Dakota Department Historian and two years as Department Chairman of the Americanism Committee. Harris was a life member of the VFW and Military Order of the Cootie and a life member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He was also a member of the 40@8 and the Minot World War II Last Mans Club. A proud moment for Harris is when he organized the memorial service for U.S. Marshalls Cheshire and Muir, who were killed in the 1983 Medina shoot out.
Harris is survived by his sons, Curtis (Barb) Togstad of Jamestown, ND and Gary (Carla) Togstad of Casper, WY; grandsons, Travis (Dawn) Togstad and Mark Togstad; great-grandson, Jonathan Togstad; great-granddaughters, Emily Togstad and Abagail Togstad; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Eileen; parents, Edwin and Minnie Togstad; sister, Evelyn (William) Toso; brother, Joel (Pfalliott) Togstad; nephews, David Togstad and Larry Toso.
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