Sigvart "Sig" Silnes

Sigvart "Sig" Silnes, 90, of Warren, MN, passed away early Thursday morning, October 16, 2025 at SMP Health - St. Catherine South in Fargo, ND with his wife by his side.
Sig was born on August 24, 1935, to Sigvart Sr. and Florence (Ecklund) Silnes. He was baptized and confirmed in the faith in Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Sig attended Warren High School, obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout as a sophomore, participating in many sports, excelled in track, and was football team captain. Following high school graduation in 1953, he attended UND and graduated in 1957 with a degree in Business Administration. On February 4, 1956, Sig was united in marriage to Marlene Wittman, his high school sweetheart. While at UND he joined the ROTC program and entered the US Army as a 2nd Lieutenant, completing 22 years of service and retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel.
His Army career was focused on research and development of anti-ballistic and ballistic weapons, primarily the Safeguard and Redstone missile systems. While assigned to Redstone Arsenal in Hunstville, AL, Sig served as aide-de-camp to Brigadier General John Zierdt. During this time he met Ernst Stuhlinger, a deputy of Dr. Wernher von Braun. Both men were instrumental in developing many of the guided missile systems of today. During the remainder of his career he served tours of duty in Germany, the Kwajalein Atoll, Vietnam, Alaska, and Korea. Sig received many awards and commendations throughout his Army career including the Bronze Star for his service in Korea.
Sig retired from the Army in 1979 and he and his family returned to the Warren area, buying the Nicholls farmstead. American Crystal Sugar hired Sig as a campaign foreman at the Warren piling station where he worked for twenty years.
He found time to serve his community as a 40-year board member of the Marshall County Fair for which he enjoyed driving and being responsible for the "Fair Shuttle." He was a faithful member of Zion Lutheran Church and the American Legion firing squad and was scouting coordinator of the year in 1990.
Hunting and fishing were his favorite pastimes. Family and community were very important to Sig. He loved his grandchildren dearly and they will remember him singing (yes, singing) the "Good Morning Song" when they visited.
Sig loved to meet new people and truly lived up to his high school yearbook photo caption - "Let me shake your hand, friend."
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Marlene Silnes of Warren, MN; two children, Eric (Denise) Silnes of Brainerd, MN & Palmview, TX, and Katy (Paul) Halverson of Eden Prairie, MN; four grandchildren, Khrista Silnes (special friend Marshall James), Erica (Yuri) Carlberg, Jay Halverson (special friend Sarah Schaefer), and Casey (Johnny) Schmitz; six great-grandchildren, Alex, Gabriel, Kadeon, Phoenix, Brandon, and Dillion; sister, Edith Soli of Grand Forks, ND, and special and loving nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Sig and Florence.
FUNERAL SERVICE: 10:30 AM on Friday, October 24, 2025 at Zion Lutheran Church (LCMS) of Warren, MN.
VISITATION: After 5:30 PM with a 6:30 PM Prayer Service on Thursday at DuBore Funeral Home in Warren, MN and one hour before services at the church on Friday.
INTERMENT: Greenwood Cemetery, Warren, MN.
MILITARY HONORS: US Army Honor Guard & the Warren American Legion Post 27.
Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Church of Warren or North Valley Health Center.