Obituary/A. Borgen Obituary, 88

February 17, 2025

A funeral service was held on Monday, February 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Badger, MN. Visitation will take place on Sunday, February 16, 2025, from 5 -7 pm at Helgeson Funeral Chapel in Roseau, with time for Sharing and Remembrance (telling Borgie stories) at 6 pm, and also one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will take place at Badger City Cemetery in Badger, MN at a later date.
Albert Darrell Borgen “Borgie” - beloved husband, father, grandpa and friend - passed away peacefully on February 5th, 2025 at LifeCare Medical Center in Roseau, MN, after a brief illness.
Borgie was born on July 21,1936 in Badger, MN, the oldest son of BJ and Bertina Borgen.
He grew up helping his dad at Borgen Implement as well as doing odd jobs out on the farm. One of his favorite stories to tell was of driving the Implement’s delivery truck to pick up a load of refrigerators in Grand Forks…at 13 years old! He graduated from Badger High School in 1954 and attended the University of MN Farm School for one year, and then Aakers School of Business, earning his business degree in 1956.
Borgie met Judy Dahlquist, of Roseau, through friends and they were married on June 28th, 1959. Two months after their marriage, he was drafted into the US Army, serving for 2 years. The couple returned to Badger and he resumed working at Borgen Implement, ultimately purchasing the business in 1971 with his brother, David. He remained in the farm implement business until 1992. In 1989, Borgie and several other partners invested in Badger State Bank which later merged with Greenbush State Bank to form Border State Bank. Borgie served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Border State Bank for several years. After leaving Borgen Implement, Borgie became a licensed real estate appraiser and agent, a pursuit he thoroughly enjoyed. He also served as the Secretary/Treasurer for Northland Homes in Badger until July of 2024.
Borgie was a tireless advocate of his hometown of Badger, always seeking opportunities to ensure it remained a thriving small town. He had many community interests and served in various leadership roles to that end, some of which included: founding member of the Badger Town & Country Club, Badger school board member, Our Redeemer’s Church Council member, and Roseau County Historical Society board member.
Borgie and Judy welcomed four children into their family; Mike (Margie) Borgen of Woodbury, MN, Mary (Mark) Karl of Roseau, MN, Paul (Shana) Borgen of St. Michael, MN, and Steven (Ariel) Borgen of Moorhead, MN. Family was the center of Borgie’s life and many happy memories were made gathering around the dinner table, the card table, on the boat, or over a cup of coffee.
He enjoyed many snowmobiling adventures with friends and family throughout the years. He was a fixture of the morning coffee group at the Corner Cafe in Badger. He worked hard and he played hard! Borgie and his family spent many happy days at the family cabin at Rocky Point. He loved to fish (and to tell fish stories!) and was always up for a game of cards or dice (usually pinochle). Borgie’s ability to strike up a conversation with anyone and his genuine interest in people made him a friend to many. Travel and adventure were also a big part of Borgie & Judy’s life, especially during their retirement years.
Borgie is survived by his wife of 65 years, Judy; his four children and their spouses; eight grandchildren: Kristina (Rob), Ryan (Danielle), Erik (Brittany); Matt, Zac (Courtney), Jake (Grace); Sam and Alex; seven great grandchildren; brothers David (Jennie) and Jon (Gwen); and sisters-in-law Nancy (Tom) Harris, and Mary (Harry) Peyerl, as well as honorary granddaughters Sophia and Gabby, several nieces, nephews and extended family members.
He is preceded in death by his parents, BJ and Bertina, father and mother in-law, Carl and Agnes Dahlquist, brother-in-law, Dick Savee, brother-in-law Norm Aamodt, brother-in-law Ray Dahlquist, sister and brother-in-law Shirley & Paul Montan, and grandson, Christopher Borgen. Helgeson Funeral Home

Albert Darrell Borgen “Borgie” - beloved husband, father, grandpa and friend - passed away peacefully on February 5th, 2025 at LifeCare Medical Center in Roseau, MN, after a brief illness.

Borgie was born on July 21,1936 in Badger, MN, the oldest son of BJ and Bertina Borgen.

He grew up helping his dad at Borgen Implement as well as doing odd jobs out on the farm. One of his favorite stories to tell was of driving the Implement’s delivery truck to pick up a load of refrigerators in Grand Forks…at 13 years old! He graduated from Badger High School in 1954 and attended the University of MN Farm School for one year, and then Aakers School of Business, earning his business degree in 1956.

Borgie met Judy Dahlquist, of Roseau, through friends and they were married on June 28th, 1959. Two months after their marriage, he was drafted into the US Army, serving for 2 years. The couple returned to Badger and he resumed working at Borgen Implement, ultimately purchasing the business in 1971 with his brother, David. He remained in the farm implement business until 1992. In 1989, Borgie and several other partners invested in Badger State Bank which later merged with Greenbush State Bank to form Border State Bank. Borgie served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Border State Bank for several years. After leaving Borgen Implement, Borgie became a licensed real estate appraiser and agent, a pursuit he thoroughly enjoyed. He also served as the Secretary/Treasurer for Northland Homes in Badger until July of 2024.

Borgie was a tireless advocate of his hometown of Badger, always seeking opportunities to ensure it remained a thriving small town. He had many community interests and served in various leadership roles to that end, some of which included: founding member of the Badger Town & Country Club, Badger school board member, Our Redeemer’s Church Council member, and Roseau County Historical Society board member.

Borgie and Judy welcomed four children into their family; Mike (Margie) Borgen of Woodbury, MN, Mary (Mark) Karl of Roseau, MN, Paul (Shana) Borgen of St. Michael, MN, and Steven (Ariel) Borgen of Moorhead, MN. Family was the center of Borgie’s life and many happy memories were made gathering around the dinner table, the card table, on the boat, or over a cup of coffee.

He enjoyed many snowmobiling adventures with friends and family throughout the years. He was a fixture of the morning coffee group at the Corner Cafe in Badger. He worked hard and he played hard! Borgie and his family spent many happy days at the family cabin at Rocky Point. He loved to fish (and to tell fish stories!) and was always up for a game of cards or dice (usually pinochle). Borgie’s ability to strike up a conversation with anyone and his genuine interest in people made him a friend to many. Travel and adventure were also a big part of Borgie & Judy’s life, especially during their retirement years.

Borgie is survived by his wife of 65 years, Judy; his four children and their spouses; eight grandchildren: Kristina (Rob), Ryan (Danielle), Erik (Brittany); Matt, Zac (Courtney), Jake (Grace); Sam and Alex; seven great grandchildren; brothers David (Jennie) and Jon (Gwen); and sisters-in-law Nancy (Tom) Harris, and Mary (Harry) Peyerl, as well as honorary granddaughters Sophia and Gabby, several nieces, nephews and extended family members.

He is preceded in death by his parents, BJ and Bertina, father and mother in-law, Carl and Agnes Dahlquist, brother-in-law, Dick Savee, brother-in-law Norm Aamodt, brother-in-law Ray Dahlquist, sister and brother-in-law Shirley & Paul Montan, and grandson, Christopher Borgen.

Helgeson Funeral Home