VANCE WISETH
Vance Wiseth, 70, of Goodridge, MN passed away Friday, November 29, 2024, at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a 6:30 PM prayer service on Monday, December 16, 2024 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also begin at 10:00 AM with the service to celebrate Vance’s life at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at Faith Lutheran Church in Goodridge, MN with Rev. Kris Snyder officiating. Burial will follow at Goodridge Cemetery, Goodridge, MN.
Vance Robert Wiseth was born December 12, 1953 to Robert and Ethel (Evenson) Wiseth. He attended Goodridge Public School graduating in 1972. He was a member of the FFA, Student Council, basketball team, and captain of the football team. Later he attended Northland College in TRF receiving an associate degree in Farm Management. Vance met Lori Patricia Manderud while attending school. Vance and Lori were joined in marriage on July 22, 1978 at Faith Lutheran Church in Goodridge. They moved into their first home in which they remodeled together north of Goodridge and began farming 480 acres in partnership with Vance’s father Robert. On August 20th 1978, at age of 25, Vance was involved in a farm accident which later proved to be a minor bump in the road. He lost his right arm in a combine accident. In September of that year, the community demonstrated what the ‘Good Old Pioneer Spirit’ is all about, a Working Bee was formed. Friends, neighbors, and relatives not only harvested the crops, but lifted the spirits of the entire family. Wiseth Farms prevailed. In 1978 Vance and Lori welcomed their first born child, Dallas. They took over the family farm in 1981. Vance had a special knack for thinking outside the box, one year when he was not able to harvest his barley crop, he purchased 1000 head of sheep and let them free roam the field. This was unheard of and fortunately turned out to be a success. He was later asked to present his technique at Sheep Days. In the 90’s, Wiseth Farms continued as a family operation with the production of alfalfa and the selling of large square bales. During the years of 2000 to 2008, Wiseth Farms was a certified organic farm raising blue corn, soybeans and wheat. In the later years, he continued to farm small grains and soybeans.
Vance was the third generation of the Wiseth Family active in the Minnesota Farmer’s Union. His grandfather Roy was Minnesota Farmer’s Union President in 1950, Vance’s father Robert was on the State Executive Board, and Vance ran for State Vice President in 1986. In addition to operating and managing Wisth Farms, Vance was involved in many community and political activities. He was delegated to the Farmers Union Convention in Spokane Washington. In the 1980’s Governor Perpich appointed Vance as chairman to the Northern Area Fact Finding Committee of Hazardous Waste. He was chairman of the Political Action Committee of the Northwest Minnesota Coalition for Rural America. He served on the National Committee for Save the Family Farm Act. Vance was chairman for Commissioner Jim Nichols when he ran for senator for Minnesota and he also worked closely with his office to write and craft the MN Omnibus Farm Bill which was passed during the 1980’s farm crisis. Vance served as Federal Legislature Director of East Marshall County Farmers Union and served on the National Policy Reform Act Committee which helped revitalize the 1950’s soil bank program; eventually became known as CRP (Conservation Reserve Program). Vance was also chairman of the Northwest Legislative Agriculture Action Committee. In 1985, Vance helped organize a tractorcade leaving Centennial Park in TRF to the State’s capital. Vance and Lori were among the 40 tractors involved. Together the members of the tractorcade fought hard to maintain the integrity of family farms. Vance’s tractor, which was parked on the front steps of the state capital, made front page of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Vance was also involved in organizing the tractor blockade of the Farmers Home Administration (FHA) in TRF in the mid 80’s. During this blockade, he represented the farmers in Washington D.C. where he met with Secretary of Ag and State Senator Ruby Boschwitz. Vance helped negotiate changes in FHA policies and some changes in the upcoming Farm Bill. The farmers’ voices were heard, about 60 million dollars was allocated for Northwestern MN which helped facilitate some needed changes and emergency loan funding due to the 1980’s farm crisis.
From 2000-2008 Vance served on the Board of directors for the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) where he represented MN as an international delegate at the OCIA international convention in Costa Rica. In addition, Vance was a past member of the Lions Club and past president of the Goodridge Jaycees where he organized a community softball league. He helped develop and was president of the Farmer Merchant Bowling League in TRF.
Throughout the journey of the Wiseth Farms, Vance and Lori welcomed two more children, Dana and DaNae. In 1991, the family moved to the homestead in which Ethel and Robert established north of Goodridge. This is when Vance’s alfalfa operation turned into a full fledge family affair. Many memories were in the making. There were countless summer days, if one were to drive by Vance’s fields, he/she would see all 5 family members working together. Dana and DaNae would be cutting alfalfa, Dallas raking hay or picking bales, and Lori bailing. Vance would be at the helm of the operation assuring everything was running smoothly. In 2005, Vance, Lori, and family remolded the original house of the homestead, which was built in the 1930’s. Dallas and grandson Trustin will honorably help Lori with the farming operations, allowing opportunity for the next generations to continue on the Wiseth Family Farm.
In his later years Vance and Lori spent their winters in Arizona, and enjoyed their time watching their grandchildren excel in playing sports. Coaching the kids every chance he could get. Vance’s passion for sports was undeniable, he loved watching the Twins and Vikings.
Vance was diagnosed with Stage 4 liver cancer in 2021 and fought a long hard battle traveling to Mayo Rochester every 3 weeks for Immunotherapy treatments. He was initially given 12 months and survived 30 months. Vance mastered his trade in farming and sure tried hard to maneuver the medical system. He was beating the odds while at the rehabilitation center, the athlete in Vance sure shined through, he would stay up at night completing his exercises impressing the therapy staff every day with his tenacity. Unfortunately, a sudden internal bleed took him home to the Lord. God must have delegated him to heaven at the prefect moment to help pass current Farm Bill. Vance, we trust you will continue to fight to get the job done as you always have. You will be missed!!
Vance in survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Lori of Goodridge; children Dallas of Goodridge, Dana (Rich) Dean of Maple Grove, DaNae (Dustin) Voges of Mankato; grandchildren Trustin, Cameron, Dylan, Brayden, Danica, Isaiah, and Isaac; sisters Victoria Hughes, Twin Valarie (Wesly) Brekke, Kurt (Judy) Wiseth; godchildren Gena Merrill, Brent Nelson, Brittany Wiseth; several nieces, nephews, and cousins, other relatives and friends.
Vance is preceded in death by his parents Robert and Ethel Wiseth; Grandparents, Roy and Theresa Wiseth and Knute and Signa Evenson; In-law, Gilmer and Mae Manderud; aunts and uncles, Betty and Bud Olson, Lloyd and Elaine Wiseth (Sylvia), Kenneth and Marilyn Wiseth, Sherman Groven, Helen and Orlando Chervestad, Cousins; Mark Olson, Joanne Hagen, Ricky Olson, Korydon Chervestad (beloved friend); extended relatives, Adriane Wiseth and Adeline Chervestad.
