OBITUARY/Sigvart “Sig” Silnes, 90

October 20, 2025
Sigvart “Sig” Silnes, 9 Sigvart “Sig” Silnes, 9

Sigvart “Sig” Silnes, 90, of Warren, MN, passed away early Thursday
morning, October 16, 2025 at SMP Health - St. Catherine South in Fargo,
ND with his wife by his side.

Sig was born on August 24, 1935, to Sigvart Sr. and Florence (Ecklund)
Silnes. He was baptized and confirmed in the faith in Our Savior's
Lutheran Church.  Sig attended Warren High School, obtaining the rank of
Eagle Scout as a sophomore, participating in many sports, excelled in
track, and was football team captain. Following high school graduation
in 1953, he attended UND and graduated in 1957 with a degree in Business
Administration. On February 4, 1956, Sig was united in marriage to
Marlene Wittman, his high school sweetheart. While at UND he joined the
ROTC program and entered the US Army as a 2nd Lieutenant, completing 22
years of service and retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel.

His Army career was focused on research and development of
anti-ballistic and ballistic weapons, primarily the Safeguard and
Redstone missile systems. While assigned to Redstone Arsenal in
Hunstville, AL, Sig served as aide-de-camp to Brigadier General John
Zierdt. During this time he met Ernst Stuhlinger, a deputy of Dr.
Wernher von Braun. Both men were instrumental in developing many of the
guided missile systems of today. During the remainder of his career he
served tours of duty in Germany, the Kwajalein Atoll, Vietnam, Alaska,
and Korea. Sig received many awards and commendations throughout his
Army career including the Bronze Star for his service in Korea.

Sig retired from the Army in 1979 and he and his family returned to the
Warren area, buying the Nicholls farmstead. American Crystal Sugar hired
Sig as a campaign foreman at the Warren piling station where he worked
for twenty years.

He found time to serve his community as a 40-year board member of the
Marshall County Fair for which he enjoyed driving and being responsible
for the “Fair Shuttle.” He was a faithful member of Zion Lutheran
Church and the American Legion firing squad, and was scouting
coordinator of the year in 1990.

Hunting and fishing were his favorite pastimes. Family and community
were very important to Sig. He loved his grandchildren dearly and they
will remember him singing (yes, singing) the “Good Morning Song”
when they visited.

Sig loved to meet new people and truly lived up to his high school
yearbook photo caption-“Let me shake your hand, friend.”

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Marlene Silnes of Warren, MN;
two children, Eric (Denise) Silnes of Brainerd, MN & Palmview, TX, and
Katy (Paul) Halverson of Eden Prairie, MN; four grandchildren, Khrista
Silnes (special friend Marshall James), Erica (Yuri) Carlberg, Jay
Halverson (special friend Sarah Schaefer), and Casey (Johnny) Schmitz;
six great-grandchildren, Alex, Gabriel, Kadeon, Phoenix, Brandon, and
Dillion; sister, Edith Soli of Grand Forks, ND, and special and loving
nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Sig and Florence.

FUNERAL SERVICE: 10:30 AM on Friday, October 24, 2025 at Zion Lutheran
Chuch (LCMS) of Warren, MN.
VISITATION: After 5:30 PM with a 6:30 PM Prayer Service on Thursday at
DuBore Funeral Home in Warren, MN and one hour before services at the
church on Friday.
INTERMENT: Greenwood Cemetery, Warren, MN.
MILITARY HONORS: US Army Honor Guard & the Warren American Legion Post
27.
Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Church of Warren or North Valley
Health Center.
ARRANGEMENTS by DuBore Funeral Home of Warren, MN.
GUESTBOOK: www.DuBoreFuneralHome.com [1]