Shane Ahrens

Shane Ahrens, age 57, passed away unexpectedly in Butte, Montana, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. His memorial service will be held at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home on Friday, April 18, 2025, at 2 pm, with visitation two hours before the service. Burial with Military Rites by Navy Honor Guard, Mantador VFW, and Hankinson American Legion will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Great Bend, ND.

Shane John Ahrens was born on March 22, 1968, to John Ahrens and LaRae (Bohn) Odegard in Breckenridge, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend, ND. He attended grade schools in North St. Paul, MN, Great Bend, ND, and Wahpeton, ND. He graduated from Wahpeton High School in 1986 and played Jr. Legion baseball for Great Bend.

In April of 1987, he joined the US Navy and served for 6 years. He was stationed on the USS Constellation (CV-64), a Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf War. He was honorably discharged in May of 1993.

Shane married Jeannette Corbin in 1990. They had two children together, Ian and Jordan. The family moved from California to Washington State, where he began his truck driving career by delivering medical equipment to patients. The family later moved to North Dakota, where he joined his dad in truck driving. Shane began his own company, “Across American Trucking.” He was born to be a truck driver, and He Loved It!!

He married Dawn Burns in May 2002, and they had a daughter, Chloe. He met his fiancée, Dorlayne, in May 2015.

In his spare time, which wasn’t much, Shane enjoyed riding his Harley, singing karaoke, shooting pool, and spending time at Lee Lake. I am sure many of you have stories relating to these experiences!! Whether you knew Shane for 5 minutes, 5 hours, or 5 or more years, he was your friend for life. He had one of the biggest hearts you will ever find in a person. Shane worked hard, and it showed in the millions of miles he logged across the country from East to West and North to South. He was proud of the fact that he never missed a delivery date or time in all his years of trucking. He was the kind of person who would “give you the shirt off his back.” Always had a story that would make you laugh – his contagious laugh can still be heard.

He will be greatly missed, but will NEVER be forgotten. Whoop!! Whoop!!

Shane is survived by his fiancé, Dorlayne Johnson; his son, Ian (Emily) Aurora, CO; daughters, Jordan Ahrens, Minneapolis, MN and Chloe Ahrens, Fargo, ND; grandchildren, Taraj, TaJay, TyMeir, JahMai and Liam; his mother, LaRae (Gary) Odegard, Fargo, ND; and father, John (Shirley) Ahrens, Lidgerwood, ND. Sisters, Shannon Fenske, Fargo, Fallon Fenske (Chris Torkildson), Fargo, and Karissa (Aaron) Goodrich, Kasson, MN; brothers, Jason Ahrens, Bismarck, ND, Justin (Lindsey) Ahrens, Fargo, and Jesse (Danielle) Ahrens, Wahpeton, ND. Nieces and Nephew, Emma and Kyler Torkildson, Madison and McKinley Torkildson, and Jailyn Schneeklolth; and many other cousins, nieces, and nephews. Aunts, Bonnie (John) Hauschild, Wahpeton, Carol (Josh) Evans, Andover, MN, Becky (Merlyn) Pausch, Wahpeton, and Joanne (Bill) Nigg, Browns Valley, MN. Dorlayne’s family, daughters, Heather (Corey) Anderson, Fergus Falls, MN, Ashley (Ken) Andel, Valley City, ND, and granddaughter, Henley.

He was preceded in death by his grandson, RaJay Ahrens; Stepfather, Steve Fenske; uncle, David Bohn; aunt, Sheila Klosterman; and grandparents, Milton and Laverne Bohn, and John “Jack” and Hattie Ahrens.

Obituary written by Shane’s loving family.