Underground utility contruction companies honored last Saturday

What a better way to celebrate Labor Day weekend than to honor the people who work hard every day. A special event was held on Saturday, September 3 at the Clear Waters Life Center in Gonvick.

Vance Norgaard, a Gonvick High School graduate, planned and organized a tribute to and recognition of the founders of pipeline construction companies, their employees and employees’ families in the seven county area between Thief River Falls and Bemidji.

The program included company founders, union representatives, government officials and more speaking about what underground utility construction companies have contributed to the local economy.

Special speakers included: Wayne and Sheryl Torgerson with North Central Service, Davie Sovde with Sovde Enterprises, Gonvick Mayor Lauris Krogstad, Past Union Representative Ken Brein, Dave Rongstad with Aconite, Dan Stenseng-Clearwater County Commissioner, Matt and Wayne Wilde with Wilde Construction, Senator Rod Skoe, Cheryl Grover, representing Enbridge, Paul and Jim Gustafson with Gustafson and Goudge, Joan Lee-Polk County Commissioner,  Red Lake County Commissioner, Sue Mills former Northern Pipeline Construction employee, Mary Pollett, sister to Noel Coon, Anne McKeig, newly appointed judge to the Minnesota Supreme Court and Noel T. Coon.

Noel spoke that Dick Leonard had been his mentor. He was a Texas guy who had made a bid for Lakehead Pipeline, which is now Enbridge. He and his brother Coy came up to Thief River Falls and they did not have much money as he had to sleep in his car and Coy in his truck. Their family life in Texas was not easy and they all had to go out and make their own living as their father was blind and could not help. He and his brother were working pipeline jobs in the area. He noticed that people in the area worked hard and they worked in many elements. They were tough and physical but they went to the Cities to work because there wasn’t any work in the area. He did not know where the “Cities” was at first and they loved this county and wanted to be here. He did not know if it was his ego or to provide jobs for people. His biggest help at that time was a loan from area people including Harlow Berg, Verner Odegaard and Myrtle Salem. He went on to expand the business, building two buildings to house equipment south of Highway 92 in Gonvick. The company had its ups and downs and in 1980 they went bankrupt. They worked through that but in 1983 Noel said he was an alcoholic and Vance Norgaard convinced him to go to Hazelton, a drug treatment center. That saved his life and turned it around. So many people helped during that time. Mark Wamback, a bouncer in Bemidji was also hired for the company along with several other people. From there the company expanded and grew with several of the employees going out and starting their own companies. Many of them were at the tribute on Saturday. Noel ended up selling his company to South West Gas out of Arizona. Noel stated that, “Gonvick has been very good to me.” 

After the speakers and a lunch the program concluded with the unveiling of a monument as a tribute to the founders and to this very special work force that has evolved during the last 48 years.

The monument can be seen as you enter Main Street in Gonvick. 

Written on the monument was:

A Dynamic

Ice Creams and Grinding Discs

A tribute to Underground Utility Construction Co.’s Founders, Employees and Families.

Once upon a time a pipeline welder helper, Noel T. Coon, working nearby the small town of Gonvick, Minnesota stopped at the local drive-in operated by Patricia Broin. Well, love happened and in time they were married and built a shop/office in Gonvick. On April 18, 1969 they founded the company Northern Gas Line Constructors, Inc. and hired local people mostly with farm backgrounds. Over time this company grew to a national company and changed its name in 1974 to Northern Pipeline Construction Co., Inc. In 1996 Northern was sold to Southwest Gas Company and employees over 4,000 people. 

As the company grew, some individuals spun off and started their own companies: North Central Service, Wilde Construction, (now owned by Mas Tec), Sovde Enterprises, Aconite, Charps and Gustafson and Goudge. Founders of these companies are Torgersons, Wildes, Sovdes, Falldorf, Rongstad, Brunkow, Charpentiers, Gustafson and Goudge.

As the companies grew so did local employment and more and more local people further enhanced their knowledge and expertise and the construction and on going maintenance of mainline pipelines, natural gas distribution systems, pumping stations, fiber optics and underground telephone/electrical utilities. This local expertise coupled with local experience in constructing high quality products in a safe manner became very valuable to local and national industries and economies. These local employees continue to bring home to our seven county area multi-millions of dollars in disposable income yearly which is invested in the communities, These employees are now an economic power house that is a major economic contributor to the seven county area from Thief River Falls to Bemidji. And this invisible dynamic is solidly rooted in our communities and the work is not going to leave our country. We live on an invisible energy corridor with ten major pipelines carrying the indispensable lifeblood of our nation along with endless lines of communications both of which are going to require new work and TLC locally and nationally for many years to come along with the rapidly expanding work on renewable energies.

A small spark in an unknown village has led to a dynamic that couldn’t have been imagined 48 years ago and a dynamic that may never have happened without the spark! Let us always honor the people in this industry and treat them with respect. Remember their work is vital and invisible. Let us thank and support them and wish them the best of futures! Let us support our dynamic!

A Dynamic is defined as Energy in motion characterized by continuous change, activity and progress.

This monument was designed, written and produced by Vance R. Norgaard, past NPL Office and Stockholder and dedicated September 3, 2016. Built by Empire Memorials, Etched by Julia Gustafson, Foundation by Gustafson and Goudge.