Divide County Journal
Crosby, North Dakota
1986 news item, no date available

Vern Porth, veteran Ambrose farmer, dies

Vernon Porth, 73-year old lifelong farmer in the Ambrose area, died unexpectedly Sunday morning.

His sister, who lives with him, says Vernon was the victim of an aneurism that ruptured.

Funeral services will be held at Ambrose Lutheran Church this morning at 11 a.m.

Vern was born at Fergus Falls, Minn., April 21, 1912*, a son of Gebhard and Louise Porth. The family moved to their Ambrose homestead in 1914, and Vernon spent his whole life there.

He took command of the family farm in 1932, when his father died, and he cared for his mother until her death in 1961.

Active in Ambrose Lutheran Church and a host of other community affairs, Vern became a Lutheran lay preacher and assisted in supplying pulpit services at many churches in western North Dakota and in Saskatchewan.

He was an enthusiastic toastmaster, and he served as Divide County Farmers Union president for many years.

Vern also performed the work of treasurer for Grant School District for 25 years, and he spent many years as a township officer. He was also an active leader in the Rural Community Chest from Divide County.

His only survivor is his sister, Helen, and a number of nieces and nephews in Minnesota, Arizona, and California.

* Other sources indicate April 21, 1913 as date of birth