Milton C. Sorensen Obituary

Milton C. Sorensen was born November 28, 1928, at Plankinton, South Dakota, the son of Clifford and Mary (Mayberry) Sorensen. At age two, they moved back to the family farm six miles north of Wall until 1949, when they moved to the home place on Creighton Road.

At age 16, he went to work for Dave Whitwer, driving trucks until he went into the US Army during the Korean War. He served from 1950-1952, stationed in Japan, where he drove a tow truck taking equipment off of ships.
He came home and went to work for Rounds Construction. They were working in Murdo when he met Mary Lou Judd and they were married in 1955. They travelled all over Wyoming and South Dakota on construction projects until 1958, when they moved to the family farm when his parent retired and moved into town.

In 1958, he went to work for Estes Bros. Construction until 1971 when he went to work for the Pennington County Highway Department, a position he held until his retirement in 1991.

Milton was a member of the Black Hills Steam & Gas Threshing Bee and enjoyed restoring tractors and showing them. His love of tractors grew from the first time he rode the neighbors McCormick Deering over the creek place. His first love was for John Deere’s and he restored many of them but he branched out to all others, finally settling on Minneapolis Molines as well as collecting and restoring machinery.

He was a member of the American Legion Post #246 of Wall, for over 50 years, and was a member of Wall United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Mary Lou (Judd) Sorensen; his daughter Jean Sorensen; and son Jeff, all of Wall; his grandson James and his wife Lizzie (O’Sullivan) of Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania; his grandson Christopher who is serving in the US Air Force stationed in South Korea; a granddaughter Elizabeth of Marion, South Dakota; great-granddaughter Olivia, daughter of James and Lizzie; two sisters Donna (John) Gravatt of Turlock, California, and Norma (Jim) Henthorne of California; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Milton was preceded in death by a son Mark; and his parents Clifford and Mary.

A memorial has been established to the Alzheimer’s Foundation and the Kadoka Nursing Home.

VISITATION
5-7 p.m.
Friday, November 27, 2015
Rush Funeral Chapel
Wall, South Dakota

GRAVESIDE SERVICES
10:00 a.m.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Wall Cemetery
Wall, South Dakota

OFFICIATING
Pastor Russell Masartis

INTERMENT WITH
MILITARY HONORS
Wall Cemetery
Wall, South Dakota

Guest Book

I had the honor of spending many moments with Milton throughout this last year and I wouldn't trade them for anything. Though he didn't say much, his eyes spoke volumes. I will miss him dearly.
~ Kassie Kukal Kadoka (11/24/2015)

We are so sorry for your loss, our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
~ Dale and Penny Baumann Quinn, SD (11/22/2015)

Our sympathy to each of you. Milton was always interested in the old machinery. May he rest in peace.
~ Ed * Linda Eisenbraun Rapid City, S.D. (11/27/2015)

We always remember Milton as a kind man and a valued native son of South Dakota. He served his country, and enriched those who knew him. Peace be with you on his passing.
~ Douglas Estes Rapid City, SD (11/27/2015)

THANKS FOR SERVING
~ A VETERAN (11/24/2015)

Milt Sorensen was one of my favorite people in the whole world. I first met Milt sometime back in the 80's when I was told of this interesting man just north of Wall with one of the most awesome tractor collections in the Midwest. After the first visit we were friends for life, the man was equally as awesome as his collection. With my brother in law and family living in Wall and with our love of the Black Hills, we made the fun trip west at least once a summer, usually in June after the first cutting of hay was in the barn. After spending the first night at Wayne and Gwen's, sometime the next afternoon I was off to Milt's. It was always the same, and I loved it every time. Here was this quite large man with the soft voice and a huge humble smile, "Well how ya doing?" After catching up on current events, we would be off to see his collection. Every year it was the same, the order in which we opened the door to every shed, the story of each tractor never changed. Oh, every year there was one or two different tractors in the shop getting the makeover, but the routine was always the same and I loved it more each time I got to spend an afternoon with this gentle man. One of the visits I especially remember was when he came carrying this large box from the shed as we drove up. Milt said to me "Make sure your son Andrew gets these." It was a box full of action toys, he had picked them up on a sale and remembered that Andrew liked such toys. The visits went on well over twenty years and each time the visit was as special as the first. We were often invited into the house where Mary Lou would make us coffee or we would look at Jeannies horse collection. In later years I got to witness Milt and Jeff restoring the UDLX. Especially after the two large liquidation sales, and of course I made them both, I began to see a few changes in my friend. Having lost my Dad to alzheimers, I had an idea and Mary Lou and Jeannie confirmed it. There were still a few more good summers, but time was not a battle to be won. On the last visit still on the farm, he was a bit caught off guard when I leaned over and gave him a big hug and said "So long good friend!" Milt was to me a proud, but humble man I could always look up to. Somewhere in the Good Book I once read a line the said "the meek shall inherit the earth." Rest easy dear friend, I know you are in good hands.
~ Oran Sorenson Garretson South Dakota (11/27/2015)

Milton C. Sorensen

of Wall, South Dakota, died on Friday, November 20, 2015
at the Kadoka Nursing Home in Kadoka at the age of 86

Service Details

Guest Book

Flowers

Milton C. Sorensen

of Wall, South Dakota, died on Friday, November 20, 2015 at the Kadoka Nursing Home in Kadoka at the age of 86

Service Details

Guest Book

Flowers

of Wall, South Dakota, died on Friday, November 20, 2015
at the Kadoka Nursing Home in Kadoka at the age of 86