Marvin Trongaard

Marvin Trongaard, 82, of Willmar, died Saturday, January 10, 2026, in his hometown of Willmar.

His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 15, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Willmar with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment with military honors will be at the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hawk Creek Animal Shelter. Arrangements by Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Homes, www.hafh.org.

Marvin Arthur Trongaard was born June 9, 1943, in Willmar, Minnesota, the son of Arthur and Bonne Belle (King) Trongaard.  He grew up in Willmar and graduated from Willmar High School in 1961.  Marvin served in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1966.  While stationed in Thailand, he met his wife, Nittaya “Nit”. After the army he went home and saved up the money to go back to Thailand and bring Nit and her daughter home to Minnesota. They were married March 3, 1966, in Bangkok, Thailand.  Marvin and Nit made their family's home in Willmar, where they raised their children.

Marvin worked as a food service salesman for many years, working for Gamble Robinson, Food Services of America and Sysco, before he retirement in 2010.  He enjoyed fishing at their home on Eagle Lake and his many hunting trips to Canada with lifelong friends.  Marvin also enjoyed visiting casinos, his weekly coffee at Middle Fork Café, and his monthly dinners with his friends from high school.

He is survived by his four children: Noy (Rick) Ritter of Tallahassee, FL, Laura (Rob) Jorgenson of Colorado Springs, CO, Michael (Rebecca) Trongaard of Willmar, MN, and Lisa (Jesse) Gulden of Willmar, MN; nine grandchildren: Justin (Brenna) Ritter, Crystal Ritter, Chantel Caskey, Sylvia Caskey, Caitlyn Caskey, Andrew Trongaard, Hope Kavanuagh, Noah Kavanaugh, and HollySue Gulden; two great-grandchildren: Eliana Ritter and Audrey Ritter; and his nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife: Nit in 2011; an infant daughter: Tanya; and two sisters: Carol deCathelineau and Ardis Rose.

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