Howard Christian Sorenson

Howard C. Sorenson, our dear father, went to be with the Lord Aug. 8, following a stroke. Howard was born Nov. 26, 1916 in Pelican Rapids Minnesota, the middle of eleven children. His parents, Marinus Sorensen and Hansine Petrea Andersen, had emigrated from Denmark in 1901.

He worked his way through the University of Minnesota and graduated cum laude in 1938, earning a Master’s degree form Penn State in 1939. Howard joined the Navy and did research in biological warfare in WWII. He later managed Sealtest Ice Cream in Chicago before joining Elgin Milk Co. where he developed formulas for McDonald’s and Burger King milk shakes, Tastee Freeze and Dairy Queen ice cream among many other products.

Howard was a loving husband, devoted father, and strong Christian. He had great curiosity and enjoyed learning all of his life. His kindness and gentle sense of humor touched all who knew him. His wife, Lulu Sorensen, preceded him in death in 1993 after 54 years of marriage.

He enjoyed golf, crabbing, and fishing, and received great satisfaction from church membership. He loved singing in the choir and participating in the Stephens ministry program. He and Lulu enjoyed the many wonderful friends they made through church activities.

He is survived by his sisters, Mae Wallenkampf, Evelyn Lauritzen, and Helen Brown, and by his sons, Eric and Lee Sorensen, their wives Terry and Siew-Choo, and grandchildren, Leigh, Kia, and Christine. A memorial service will be at Whidbey Presbyterian Church, 1148 SE 8th Ave. Oak Harbor, Washington Saturday Sept. 9, 2006 at 1 p.m., Please consider a gift to the church in lieu of flowers.