Jul 19, 2016Obituary: Loren Stangeland
Loren P. Stangeland, Sr. passed away on July 11 in Richland, Washington. The 1959 NDSU graduate began his professional career in Hallock, Minnesota and later Kennedy, Minnesota and Grand Forks, North Dakota.
In 1967, he and his young family of seven moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho where he was manager of a potato dehydrating plant. In the fall of 1975, he was transferred to Richland, Washington as director of raw products at the new Rogers Brothers (now Lamb Weston) potato processing plant. In 1978, Loren and John Tucker established “3” Rivers Potato Services, Inc. He became the sole owner in 1990 and successfully ran the business for many years.
Loren was well-known in the potato industry across North America, serving as president of the Idaho Food Technologists and the U.S. Potato Board. Upon Loren’s retirement in 2009, his son, Paul, became sole owner of the business.
NDSU Potato Breeder Susie Thompson said, “Loren was the gentleman that we worked with when he would give a scholarship to plant sciences in memory of his potato friends from here in the Red River Valley. He was such an interesting gentleman and so giving, kind and thoughtful. He leaves a wonderful legacy to the US potato industry.”
Services were held July 16. An additional memorial service will be held in Minnesota in August at a time and place to be determined.
Source: Northern Plains Potato Growers Association; photo: Sunset Gardens
