Dennis J. Throndset "Mr. T"

Dennis Throndset, 74, lifelong Langdon resident, passed away peacefully Thursday, January 4, 2024, at Langdon Prairie Health with his family at his side.

Dennis James was born January 11, 1949, in Langdon, ND, to James and Lola (McKay) Throndset. He grew up and attended school in Langdon, graduating in 1967. He continued his education at UND in Grand Forks where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and worked at the Red Pepper. He earned a teaching degree in physical education and social science and, later, a master’s degree in educational administration. He married Carol Tholkes in February of 1971, and they made their home and raised their three daughters in Langdon. Dennis taught physical education and then was the principal at Langdon Elementary until retiring in 2000 due to health reasons. He coached various high school sports but especially loved coaching girls basketball and was NDHSCA Coach of the Year in 1983. He also umped softball and baseball and was a basketball referee. After retirement, he thoroughly enjoyed writing the sports history article and several feature articles on past athletes from Langdon for the Cavalier County Republican. He was a ‘stats’ person with his personal information and would also go with Jake to many sporting events and provide stats for various Langdon Cardinal sports. 

Dennis felt it was important to be involved in your community and to be an advocate for education and kids. He was a former member of CCJDA Board, Food Pantry Board, Park Board, and DVAC Board;  was the men’s golf league secretary at the Langdon Country Club; and belonged to various local, state, and national school-related committees. He was a former secretary, past president and PROUD member of Langdon Eagles Aerie #3454. He was honored to be inducted into the LASD Educators’ Hall of Fame, awarded the 2009 North Dakota Community Leadership Award, and inducted into the 2018 Dakota State Eagles Hall of Fame. He volunteered for Meals-On-Wheels, helped with the county spelling bee, and was an announcer at various high school sporting events.

More important than anything was his family. He loved Carol, his girls and their husbands, and his grandkids. He and Carol looked forward to attending events that their children and grandchildren participated in and having family gatherings, especially the yearly week at the lake where the whole Throndset side would gather. He was a golfer and loved to play pinochle, Scrabble, trivia, listen to almost any kind of music, and do crossword puzzles. He was a sports fanatic and belonged to a few fantasy leagues along with cheering on his beloved UND Sioux, Chicago Cubs, and, especially, his Langdon Cardinals. He also loved to travel, and the family ventured on a couple longer trips during the summers off from school in the 1980s. Dennis seemed to know someone everywhere he went, and if he didn’t, he met new people and tried to find a connection to someone he knew. He loved being around people and having good conversations. 

He will be deeply missed by his wife, Carol; children: Dawn & Stoney Kruk, Jennifer & Trevor Romfo, and Andrea & John Maus; grandchildren: Jayden, Abby, Taryn, Logan, and Brooke; brother Craig (Darcy) Throndset; sister Lori (Jerry) Krieg; cousin/brother Jeff (Deb) McKay; in-laws: Joni Hall, Ron (Linda) Tholkes, Renae (Art) Tholkes; and many dear cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandson Justin Kruk, mother & father-in-law Gerry & Joe Tholkes, brother-in-law Tom Hall, and several aunts and uncles that were precious to him.

A memorial service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on January 19, 2024, at St. Alphonsus Church in Langdon, ND, with visitation starting at 5:00 p.m. Please join the family for sharing and fellowship after the service at the Langdon Eagles Aerie #3454 in Langdon. The family wants everyone to wear their Cardinal, Sioux or Cubs attire - he loved them all!

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials in Dennis’s name to one of the following: Throndset Family Scholarship (1308 12^th St., Langdon), Langdon Area School District Foundation (PO Box 408, Langdon), Food Pantry (210 8^th Ave., Langdon), or Langdon Prairie Health Foundation (909 2^nd St., Langdon).