Allen Gordon Drege, 85, Minot and formerly of Rugby and Rolla, died on Monday November 21, 2016 in a Minot hospital.

Allen was born on May 12, 1931 in Rugby, ND. A son of Ada (Orvedal) and Sivert J. Drege, he was baptized May 31, 1931 in Zion Lutheran Church, rural Tunbridge, (which is now in the Pierce County Museum) and confirmed in his faith, May 20, 1945, at First Lutheran Church in Rugby. He attended the rural school one-half mile east of the family farm and moved into Rugby with his parents when he was beginning high school. He graduated from Rugby High School in 1948 and from NDSU's School of Agriculture, in 1954, with a major in Agricultural Economics and minor in Music.

At the age of 5, Allen began taking piano lessons and by the time he was in high school was giving piano lessons and playing the organ in church. This avocation stretched into 70 years of teaching piano to over 600 students. Some of his fondest musical memories included playing Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" for his high school senior recital (in a blue suit in front of a blue curtain) and serving as the first accompanist of the National FFA convention's 100 voice chorus in Kansas City in 1948 and 1949. He spoke nostalgically about teaching piano in his college years. In addition to college courses he would work for room and board at his aunt's grocery store in Fargo, delivering groceries during the week, as well as teaching 40 piano students in the late afternoons and evenings. Then he would drive back to Rugby on the weekends, stopping in small towns along the way, and teaching even more students.

Upon college graduation he began his life-long work with Farmer's Home Administration (FMHA) in Carson and Bowbells, ND (1955) and as County Supervisor in Steele (1956) and Cando and Rolla (1957). At First Lutheran Church in Rugby, on July 28, 1957, he married Yvonne Janet Lynnes of Rolette who was completing her nurse's training in Rugby. They made their home in Rolla until he was promoted to the District Director position for northwest North Dakota, moving to Minot in 1966, where he continued with FMHA until his retirement in 1992.

When they moved to Minot in 1966, they raised their family of four amongst a special community of neighbors. Mr. Drege continued to teach piano students in his home studio and continued his lifelong musical service to the Lutheran Church, most notably at Christ Lutheran Church, Minot, where he served as organist for over 40 years and directed the Cathedral Choir.

In addition to being a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Allen was a member of the Golden K Kiwanis, the Minot Elks Lodge #1089, Loyal Order of the Moose, Eagles Aerie, NAARF, the Minot Community Concert Series, and a supporter of the Minot Symphony and Metigoshe Ministries. Allen enjoyed golfing, traveling, reading, gardening, welcoming his extended family when they visited Minot, and was renowned for his baking - especially caramel rolls. For the past two years he enjoyed his community at "The View".

His loving family includes his wife of 59 years, Yvonne Drege, Minot; children, Marsh (Ann Siegle Drege), New York, NY, Lance Drege (Karen Beres), Norman, OK and Winston-Salem, NC, Sara (Hovey) Tinsman, Bettendorf, IA and Steven Drege, Mexico City, Mexico; three grandchildren: Josef, Skye and Annika Tinsman of Bettendorf Iowa; and brothers- and sisters-in-law, Helen Drege, Rugby, Lola Hanson, Fargo, Sandra and Gordon Metz, LaCrosse, WI, Avis O'Connell, FL, David and Miriam Lynnes , Bottineau, Donovan and Jacquelin Lynnes (special friend Toni Sims), Mobile, AL, and Roxanne and Bob Mott, Minot as well as numerous beloved nephews, nieces and cousins.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Lester Drege, sister, Alice Krogstad as well as in-laws Raymond Krogstad, Orlin "Bill" Hanson, Jeannine and David Aarhus, Mildred and Raymond Monson and Lester Lynnes.

Celebration of Life for Allen Drege : Friday, Nov. 25, 2016 at 11:00 AM in Christ Lutheran Church, Minot.
Graveside service : Friday, November 25 at 3:00 PM in Persilla Watts Cemetery, Rugby.
Visitation : WEDNESDAY , November 23 in the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM.
Memorials : In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials are preferred to Christ Lutheran Church, Minot or Metigoshe Ministries.