Curtis Vander Vorst

Curtis (Curt) Vander Vorst, 74, passed away peacefully at his winter home in Sun City West, Arizona on Sunday, November 6, 2022. 

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, November 17, 2022, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck.

A time of gathering will be held 5-7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 16, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck.

Burial will be held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, November 17 at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Curt was born on September 26, 1948, and was the third of six children born to Ed and Marietta (Rowerdink) Vander Vorst.  He was raised on the Vander Vorst homestead southwest of Strasburg and attended country school through eighth grade and graduated from Strasburg High School in 1966.

Curt was married to Vivian (Nieuwsma) his high school sweetheart for 53 years and they had two children Jason and Kristy.  They made their home in Bismarck, North Dakota for 38 years before moving back to “home country” the Strasburg, North Dakota area to continue farming interests.  In 2010, Curt & Vivian began enjoying the warmth of the Arizona desert over the winter months.

Curt had a deep love and devotion for his family, loved farming, football, playing golf, hunting, collector cars, the Arizona sunshine and his country.  He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to many. 

Curt worked at Bobcat and retired after 33 years.  He was also a dedicated service member serving in the US Army in Vietnam from 1969 – 1970.  In 1977, six years after being honorably discharged from the Army, Curt joined the North Dakota National Guard and retired in 1996 with a combined 20-year service with the Army and National Guard.

Through the years Curt enjoyed farming with his father, sharing a special passion for farm life and forming a strong father-son bond.  His daily life as a boy and young man taught him the ways of the land.  He completed his last harvest in October 2022.

Curt is survived by his loving wife, Vivian; son, Jason Vander Vorst; daughter, Kristy (Kyle) Grunder; grandchildren, Alyssa, Evan, Lilli and Sophia Vander Vorst, Taylor and William Greene; sister, Nyleen Steinert; sister-in-law, Tess Vander Vorst; sister, Deb (Craig) Renner; brother-in-law, Rod Tschritter; sister, Patty (Darel) Tschritter; sister-in-law, Gracy Nieuwsma; brother-in-law, Lowell Seymour; brother-in-law, Willard Nieuwsma; sister-in-law, Helen Huizenga; brother-in-law, Herb Neukircher; sister-in-law, LaVonne (Jim) Rossow; sister-in-law, Lorraine Nieuwsma; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Marietta Vander Vorst; brother-in law, Reuben Steinert; brother, Gerald Vander Vorst; and sister, Lyndel Tschritter; in-laws, Willie and Bertha Nieuwsma; brother-in-law, Franklin Nieuwsma; sister-in-law, Gladys Dornbush Seymour; brother-in-law, Harlan Dornbush; sister-in-law, Sylvia Nieuwsma; brother-in-law, Bob Huizenga; sister-in-law, Carol Crawford Neukircher; brother-in-law, Bob Crawford; and brother-in-law, Edwin Nieuwsma.