Daniel Kenneth Sorgen | Passages
Published August 11, 2026
April 3, 1942 – August 3, 2026
Daniel Kenneth Sorgen was born in Valley City, ND on April 3, 1942 to Rev. Sanford and Vilgard (Daehlin) Sorgen. A son to a pastor, he grew up in the upper Midwest in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. He attended and graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN where he also met his wife of 61 years, Kitty (Skeie) Sorgen. They were married on June 19, 1965, one day after Dan bought his dream car – a 1965 fuel injected Corvette convertible.
After graduating with a masters in physics and mathematics from University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND, Dan and Kitty moved to Texas (where the snow couldn’t reach them!) and proceeded to build a family with son, Dan Jr., and daughter, Karla Jill. Dan worked in the aerospace and defense industries, which eventually led the family to southern California after a dozen years in Texas. Working at Hughes Aircraft, he was involved in projects such as the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). In Thousand Oaks, CA, Dan and Kitty raised their two children, regularly adding to the number of kids in the house with exchange students, extended family members, and others needing a loving place to hang their hat for a while.
Dan and Kitty fell in love with San Juan Island when they visited their daughter in 2005 upon Dan’s retirement. They said farewell to CA and have loved the life they created in Friday Harbor. Dan made lasting friendships through his involvement with Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church, the local Lions Chapter, and his Monday Lunch group.
Dan died peacefully at Village at the Harbor on the afternoon of August 3, 2026 with his wife, children, and granddaughter Jillian by his side.
Dan is preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Sanford and Vilgard (Daehlin) Sorgen, brother Dave Sorgen, and adopted “grandparents” Olaf and Gina Norgard. He leaves behind wife Kitty (Skeie) Sorgen, son Dan Sorgen Jr and wife Maria, daughter Karla Jill (Sorgen) Urbach and husband Andy, grandchildren Rachel, Kaylee, Jillian, Danny, and Lucy, great-granddaughter Naomi, and brother Steve Sorgen.
A memorial service will be held at Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church on Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 2:00pm.
To share memories of Dan, please visit www.evanschapel.com/obituary/dan-sorgen.