Olin J. Storvick

Olin J. Storvick, 92, of Moorhead, MN, passed away on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at Sanford Health, Fargo, ND.

Olin John Storvick was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 12, 1925 to Roy and Helen (Weeks) Storvick. He received his public school education in Mason City (Iowa) where he graduated in 1943. He enrolled in Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) in June of 1943. In the course of that term, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was called to active duty in August 1943. He served in the Pacific Theater as Technical Sergeant (platoon sergeant) in Headquarters Company, Second Battalion, 105^th Infantry Regiment, 27^th Infantry Division on Okinawa where he was awarded a Purple Heart for a shrapnel wound and was hospitalized with malaria. He was discharged on January 9, 1946 and returned to Luther College where he graduated in 1949. His major activities were concert band (first clarinet) and football (captain). He was married to Ruth Dorothy Struxness on March 19, 1949. They moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where he entered graduate school at the University of Michigan. He received the A.M. degree in 1950 and the Ph.D. in 1968. He received University Fellowships and a University Scholarship and was admitted to Phi Kappa Phi. In 1954-55 he was a Fulbright Scholar at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Greece.

In 1955 he joined the Classics department of Concordia College (Moorhead) and retired in 1995. He served as Associate Dean of the College (1979-1985 and 1989-1990). He was twice honored by Concordia College as the Wije Professor and the regents established an endowed chair of Classical Studies which carries his name. He was also (1977-78 and 1995) Visiting Professor of Greek at Luther Seminary (Saint Paul). His major research activity was in archaeology and he did field work at Khirbet Shema (Israel) 1970-1972 and Caesarea Maritima (twelve seasons between 1973 and 1997) serving as field supervisor.

He was an NEH lecturer at Jamestown College and NEH curriculum consultant to Saint Mary’s College (Winona, MN). He was an invited lecturer at the 80^th birthday symposium honoring Orlando W. Qualley of Luther College and gave the inaugural lecture in the Knudsvig Memorial Symposium at the University of Michigan Department of Classical Studies. In 1991 he was a member of a People to People delegation of American archaeologists to visit China. At Xian he presented the work at Caesarea to Chinese archaeologists.

In 1979, he was awarded an honorary doctorate honoris causa, and was given Luther’s Distinguished Service Award in 2009. In May of 2017, Concordia College awarded the Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he served many years as Sunday school teacher, member of church council, president and many years as assistant scoutmaster of Troop 637.

He was preceded in death by his parents, by his brother David in 2011, and in 2014 by his wife of 65 years, Ruth. He is survived by their five children. Helen (Mrs. David M. Saude) of Winnipeg, MB, Rolf (Karen Lund) of Mankato, MN, Solveig (Mrs. Steven R. Pollei) of Tacoma WA, Karen (Mrs. James E. Markert) of Blaine, MN and Eric (Diane Reque) of Mankato, MN, twelve grandchildren: Kjersten Saude of Vancouver, BC; Erik (Robyn) Saude of Calgary, AB; Kristofor (Gemma) Storvick of Eagan, MN; Hans (Amy) Storvick of Apple Valley, MN; Marit Pollei Kinney (Matt) of Vacaville, CA; Bryn, Andrea, Julia, and James Markert of Blaine, MN and Anders, Peder, Kai Storvick of Mankato, MN and seven great-grandchildren: Mark, Clara and Olin Saude of Calgary, AB; Theron, Annika and Kaleb Storvick of Eagan, MN, and Sloane of Apple Valley, MN. He is also survived by two sisters, Rosalie Miller of Faribault and Sonja (Mrs. Donald Hagestuen) of Aitkin, MN.

Memorials preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church Foundation, Concordia College, Concordia College Language Villages, or Luther College.

Visitation: Monday, June 25, 2018 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.

Funeral: Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at 11:00 AM in Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN.

Burial: Prairie Home Cemetery, Moorhead, MN.