Myron Sommervold, 70, of Roseville, California, formerly of Toronto, died Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. Memorial services are at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at Leganger Lutheran Church in Toronto. Burial is in the Mikkelson Cemetery of rural Toronto. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Houseman Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Myron Allen Sommervold was born Feb. 18, 1947, to Orwin and Cora Sommervold in Hendricks, Minnesota. He attended country school and graduated from Toronto High School in 1965. On June 15, 1968, he married Gloria A. Hanson in Brandt. He furthered his education at SDSU with his USAF ROTC commission. After graduation, he attended USAF Pilot Training and earned his wings at Laredo AFB in Texas. He was assigned to Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota where he flew KC-135 air refueling aircraft.
After his initial service in the Air Force, he began flying commercial aircraft for Braniff Airways. After several years, he made the decision to return to the Air Force where he continued to fly KC-135’s at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, Castle AFB, California, and Lincoln Air National Guard Base, Nebraska. During this time he completed his master’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry Riddle University. He proudly served his country during the Vietnam and Gulf wars. He retired from the Air Force in 1998 as an operations officer, flight instructor, and flight evaluator in the KC-135. Myron also served as a Wing Chief of Safety and Training.
Following his service of 23 years in the Air Force, he began working for Rockwell Collins in the Government Systems Division in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He retired after 17 years.
The Air Force provided many opportunities to travel the world, but one of his favorite places to be, was on the farm. Farming was a big part of Myron’s life and every opportunity to return “home” to work on the farm was rewarding.
Upon retirement, he spent time travelling in his RV visiting the farm, friends, and family. After a few years of retirement in Marion, Iowa, Myron and Gloria moved to Roseville, California, to be closer to their grandchildren.
Myron is survived by his wife, Gloria; daughter Kelly (Todd) Venneri of Roseville, California; sister, Kathy Langland of Bruce; two grandchildren; nephews, nieces, in-laws and friends.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Gene Sommervold and brother-in-law Dave Langland.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Mikkelson Cemetery or Leganger Lutheran Church in Toronto.
