Charles J. Renfrow, age 82 of rural Mercer, ND, died Monday, November 12, 2007 while under hospice care at the Community Memorial Hospital in Turtle Lake, ND.

Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM Friday, Nov. 16 at the United Methodist Church in Turtle Lake, with the Rev. Galen Kauffman, officiating.

Interment will follow at the Turtle Lake Cemetery with graveside rites provided by the American Legion Post #133 of Turtle Lake.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM Thursday, Nov. 15 at Goetz Funeral Home – Turtle Lake, and Friday, one hour prior to time of service at the church. A family service will be held at 8:00 PM Thursday at the funeral home.

Charles Joseph Renfrow was born August 6, 1925 on the family farm south of Turtle Lake, the son to Walter and Janet (Nordquist) Renfrow. He was named after his two grandfathers, Joseph Renfrow and Charles Nordquist. He grew up on his parent's farm during the depression years and attended country school in New Home Township. Charley attended high school in Turtle Lake, graduating in 1943. As a young man, he worked at the coal mine and sheared sheep for area farmers. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on April 27, 1944, and served in the European Theater as a medic in the 129th Evacuation Unit for eighteen months. He very seldom, if ever, talked about his experiences as a medic. Following his military discharge, he married Florence Mae Fandrick on July 1, 1946 in Bottineau, ND. They bought and operated a grain, beef, and dairy farm south of Turtle Lake, where they raised their family. He served on the Turtle Lake School board, and was the founding leader of the Turtle Lake Turtles 4-H club on the Red Trail. He was a member of the Lawrence Stephenson American Legion Post #133 and a life-long member of the United Methodist Church of Turtle Lake. In 1968, he joined the National Farmers Organization and worked in their grain department, also serving as a National Director for North Dakota. The N.F.O. was his passion for many years. He enjoyed visiting with folks about farming and N.F.O. affairs. Charley loved new ideas and was one of the first farmers in McLean County to grow sunflowers in the early 1970's. He was interested in wind power before it was the "in" thing to do, and installed a solar powered water pump in his pasture. Once Charley had completed a project, he was on to the next thing. He is remembered as a great mechanic and fixer. He made due for many years with older equipment.
More than anything, Charley was a FARMER. While in failing health the last few years, it was his pleasure to still get out on the swather, or to help with corn cutting. This year he could only watch, but he was there to supervise! He was absolutely thrilled with the wheat price this fall, the highest price he ever received for his wheat.

He is survived by two daughters, Susan Kuleck of Bismarck, ND and Nellie (Steve) Blotter of Mandan, ND; two sons, Joel (Sharon) Renfrow of Bismarck, ND and Clark (Lucinda) Renfrow of rural Mercer, ND ; eleven grandchildren and six great grandchildren; sisters, Wilma Sandberg, Aitkin, MN, Janet (Glen) Davis, Wenatchee, WA, Naomi Bovkoon, Garrison, ND; brothers, Curtis (Marcella) Renfrow of Minot, ND, Frank (JoAnn) of Emerado, ND.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 50 years, Florence Renfrow;
sisters, Verna Just and Doris Laib; one granddaughter and one grandson.