Odin Tranby

Odin Tranby, 97, Berthold, ND, passed away peacefully on December 6, 2023, at a Minot care facility after a brief illness.
Odin Glen Tranby was born on August 12, 1926, in rural Tagus, ND, to Oscar and Ragneld (Strand) Tranby. He was raised on the family farm in eastern Mountrail County with his siblings Alonzo, Clifford, Edna and James. It was two miles to the small country school where he received an 8th-Grade education. Often walking together down the dusty prairie roads, they could reduce it to a mile and a quarter if they cut across the pasture.
In December 1944, Odin was drafted into the US Army and was trained as a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne Division, 188th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He spent most of his tour of duty engaged in the Pacific Theater police action toward the end and shortly after WWII, mainly in Japan and the Philippines. When recalling his time in the military, he told stories of crossing the Pacific Ocean twice on Liberty troop transport ships which were packed so densely that they had to take turns sleeping around the clock below deck in shared bunks. Meanwhile, topside, the sun was so hot that you could "fry eggs on the deck"! On his days off while in Japan, he would walk for miles on the rice paddy dikes in the countryside visiting with the local farmers. When he returned to the US, he volunteered for several burial service duties at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN, where he would spend all day shining his shoes, cleaning his rifle and going from funeral to funeral to carry out the military gun salute. He received an honorable discharge in May 1947 at the rank of corporal along with the additional designation of Company Supply Sergeant.
After his time in the Army, Odin returned to the family farm which, by that time, had moved to western Ward County between Berthold and Plaza. He married Doris May Ness on October 29, 1950, at Shell Creek Lutheran Church in rural Blaisdell, ND. They made their home on the farm where they raised their family of four children: Kathleen, David, Paul and Mary. Odin and Doris spent the rest of their lives on that same farm living the idyllic North Dakota farm life, peacefully taking care of their fields, tending gardens, milking cattle, and harvesting crops. Doris passed away on October 30, 2003, after 53 years of marriage.
During his life, Odin was a member of the Plaza School Board, American Legion, Shell Creek Lutheran Church and various township boards. Always an avid learner, he built his own house, experimented with honey bees, made chokecherry wine, played the accordion and even flew small airplanes. Rather than buy new, he could fix just about anything that needed repairs. Odin was as kind and selfless as a person can be; he always had a smile, was so easy to talk to and very rarely used a harsh word or a raised voice. Being true to his Norwegian heritage, he would occasionally treat his family to homemade rommegrot. Odin made the best.
Odin was able to stay on the family farm up until just a couple of weeks before his death. He was even driving his golf cart around just a few months before his passing. His mind was always incredibly sharp. At 95, while looking at an old black and white photo that included him as a very young child, he could not only name all the neighbor kids in the picture, but also remembered the names of the two horses, Lula Bell and Beauty!
Odin was famous for the handwritten notes he included in the Christmas, birthday and anniversary cards he sent. Even late in life, with Kathy's help, he would write a few lines about the weather, how the garden was doing and how the crops looked - nothing really noteworthy, but cherished by the recipients nonetheless, as it was so everyday, so calm and so genuinely 'Odin'.
Odin's family expresses their thanks and appreciation to the many compassionate and caring staff members at Minot Trinity Hospital and Minot Health and Rehab who so diligently assisted him during the last few days of his life.
Odin is survived by brother James Tranby of Des Lacs, ND; daughter Kathleen Tranby of Berthold, ND; son David Tranby of Berthold, ND; son Paul (Bonnie) Tranby of Eagan, MN and daughter Mary (Marty) Shaw of Makoti, ND; grandchildren Stefanie Shaw of Fargo, ND; Cory (Kristin, great grandchildren Everett and Kieran) Tranby of Woodbury, MN; Nicholas (Holly) Shaw of West Fargo, ND; Dorisa (Dan, great grandchildren Oskar and Elena) Nelson of Hopkins, MN and numerous nieces and nephews.
Odin is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Doris, his siblings Alonzo, Clifford and Edna (Bjurquist) and infant grandson Shannon Paul Tranby.
In honor of his wishes, there will be no visitation or service at this time. A memorial service is being planned for later in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the donor's choice.