After spending a lifetime collecting career advances, opportunities and awards, former IBM employee and Douglas County commissioner seeks ways to keep giving
Curtis H. Thorfinnson
Curtis “Curt” H. Thorfinnson, was the youngest of three sons born to Hjalti “Mike” and Johanna “Jo” Thorfinnson on June 10, 1939. He grew up in Wahpeton, ND, where he graduated from high school in 1957 and North Dakota State School of Science in 1959. On August 19, 1961, he married his high school sweetheart, Bonnie Koppelman. They lived in Fargo where Bonnie taught 2nd grade and Curt completed classes and student-taught at Moorhead State College’s campus school. He graduated with a major in math and science which he taught in Abercrombie, ND in addition to being the principal.
In 1967, they moved to Bloomington, MN when Curt accepted a position as a reliability engineer for the Control Data Corporation. They purchased their first home in Bloomington and raised their two children, Brent and Kelli there. This is where they lived for 41 years.
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9 people who once lived in North Dakota served as governors of other states Did You Know That columnist Curt Eriksmoen explains what people like Theodore Roosevelt, Gary Johnson and Happy Chandler all have in common. Written By: Curt Eriksmoen | ×
Theodore Roosevelt (from left), Gary Johnson and Albert Happy Chandler. Special to The Forum
The following nine people who once lived in North Dakota shared a similar political achievement: Theodore Roosevelt, Gary Johnson, Happy Chandler, Hazen Pingree, Arthur Crane, Horace Austin, Arthur Langlie, Ralph Herseth and Donald Nutter. They all served as governors of states other than North Dakota.
Austin (Minnesota), who later became the register of the U.S. Land Office in Fargo, was the only governor to move to North Dakota after he had served as a state chief executive. Johnson (New Mexico), who was from Minot, was the only one born in North Dakota, and Langlie (Washington), who lived in Divide Coun