Herbert Louis Thorndal

FARGO -- Herbert Louis Thorndal Jr., 73, Fargo, died March 4, 2002, at his home. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Gethsemane Episcopal Church, Fargo.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the church, where a prayer service will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Herb Thorndal was born Jan. 21, 1929, in Minot. Herb attended schools in North Dakota, Michigan and Minnesota, and graduated from Fergus Falls High School in Minnesota in 1947. He graduated with a bachelor of science in economics from North Dakota State University in 1951.

Herb served in the U.S. Air Force as an intelligence officer in Korea from 1952 to 1953, and was decorated with the Bronze Star. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Herb worked at the First National Bank in Mankato, Minn. In 1954, he and his father founded the Columbus State Bank. Herb was president of the bank in 1966 when he sold it and moved to Bismarck.

He was Commissioner of Banking and Financial Institutions for the state of North Dakota from 1966 to 1969, when he was appointed president and CEO of the Bank of North Dakota. He served under four different governors until 1986, longer than any predecessor or successor to date. Herb later moved to Minot as the CEO of Farm Credit Service of N.W. North Dakota until his retirement in 1991.

During his banking career, he participated in six international trade missions, and after retirement he traveled to Russia as a consultant for the Agricultural Cooperative Development International.

Herb was a member of the American Legion, Elks Club, 40-8, Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral, Lions Club, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Herb was loved as a husband, father and friend. Together with Nancy, he provided a solid foundation for his children and grandchildren. His dry wit and generosity enriched those who knew him. He worked a daily crossword puzzle in ink, loved reading, traveling, gardening and spending time at the cabin on Round Lake, Minn.

Herb is survived by his wife, Nancy, at home in Fargo; his children, Herbert III (Sole), Columbus, Ohio, Ann Thorndal (Ray Hoag), Bowling Green, Ohio, Matthew (Lilly), Tucson, Ariz., Earl, St. Paul, Minn., Helen (Charles) Adams, Moses Lake, Wash., Christine (Pat) Tate, Vancouver, Wash., Joseph (Christy), Elk River, Minn., Pearl Thorndal, Richfield, Utah, and Janet (Ken) Lebsack, Ankeny, Iowa; two brothers, John (Loretta), Las Vegas, and William (Margit), Laurel, Mont.; one sister, Mary Thorndal (Veronica St. Claire), Los Angeles; and 19 grandchildren.