Teresa Jorgenson

A funeral service for Teresa Jorgenson, 52, of Williston, ND will be 1:00 p. m. , Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at American Lutheran Church in Baker, MT with Pastors Bruce and Reba Kolasch officiating. Teresa passed away August 6, 2015 surrounded by her loving family following a lengthy and heroic battle with cancer. Teresa was born January 21, 1963 in Baker, MT to Gordon and Sharon (Finneman) Rustad. She grew up and attended school in Baker graduating with the class of 1981. She was the third of four siblings and always the brave and adventurous one. If there was a Shetland pony the rest were afraid to ride, Teresa would get on and show them how it was done. She competed in her first barrel racing at the age of 3 riding her shetland pony Flicka. Teresa loved the sport of rodeo, and started competing at a young age in Little Britches Rodeos, qualifying for the National LBR three times. She also competed in high school and college rodeos. In 1982, she earned the honor of Montana Rookie of the Year in the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association in barrel racing. Teresa and her horse Don Finn were quite a team, winning many buckles and saddles throughout her high school, college and professional careers. Teresa attended college at Dawson Community College, Powell Community College, and graduated from Eastern Montana College in Billings, MT earning her teaching degree. Teresa didn’t walk through her graduation as that was the day she chose to begin her life with the love of her life, Tom Jorgenson. They were married on June 3, 1989. Together they raised their three children, Christopher Todd, Seth Thomas and Shelby RaeAnn. She was the ultimate rodeo mom, supporting and hauling her 3 kids to rodeos for many years, as well as supporting Tom in his rodeo career. She served as secretary of the NDRA for many years as well as the North Dakota High School Rodeo Assn. She taught in several locations including New Town, ND, Belle Fourche, SD, Trenton, ND and ended her teaching career after many years teaching in Williston, ND. After retiring from teaching, Teresa and her family opened The UPS Store in Williston which they owned and operated together. Teresa is survived by her husband of 26 years, Tom; children – Chris (Brittanie) Jorgenson of Baker; Seth Jorgenson and Shelby Jorgenson both of Williston; her parents Gordon and Sharon Rustad of Baker; sisters – Tammy (Pat) O’Donnell and Tracy (James) Nielsen of Baker and her brother Todd (Donna) Rustad of Watford City, ND; mother and father-in-law – Barb and Dale Jorgenson of Watford City as well as Tom’s siblings Tim (Sue) Jorgenson and Joan. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.


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Burial Date: August 12, 2015

Funeral: Wednesday, American Lutheran Church, Baker, MT