A livestream of Todd's service will be available for the public to attend remotely at https://www.mtmsales.net/live .  The service can be viewed for two weeks starting on Friday, April 3 at 11:00 a.m.

Todd Magnuson, 59, longtime Minot and Surrey math teacher and coach died on Friday, March 27, 2020 at his home from an apparent heart attack.

Todd James Magnuson was born on November 17, 1960 in Bismarck, ND to Larry and Irene (Rensch) Magnuson.  He was raised and educated in Surrey, graduating from Surrey High School in 1979.  Todd was a four-sport athlete and participated in the music program during his high school years.  Todd graduated from Minot State University in 1992 with a degree in math education and minors in history and coaching.

Todd married Marlys Forness on November 27, 1982 at Christ Lutheran Church in Minot.  They started their life together in Surrey and then moved to Minot where they made their home and raised their family.

If there is such a thing as a "beloved" math teacher, it was Todd Magnuson!  What set Todd apart from others was the meaningful relationships he established with his students.  He cared about the whole person and it was not uncommon for former students or their parents to greet him and express their appreciation to him for what he had taught them and how much he cared about them.  Todd started his 28-year teaching career in 1992 at Surrey High School.  In 2003 he transferred to the Minot Public Schools, teaching math at Jim Hill Middle School until 2015 when he moved to Central Campus where he taught math until the time of his death.  Todd was looking forward to his retirement in May of this year.  His plans were to join Marlys as an employee at her public accounting firm, Accounting Solutions.

Todd shared his love of mathematics and teaching with his daughter, Sarah, and was thrilled when she joined him in the math department at Central Campus.   Todd embraced using technology in his lessons, and was not challenged with the idea of distance learning when the COVID-19 pandemic made it necessary for schools to close their buildings.  He had all his lessons prepared and videos recorded for the rest of the school year in the days before his death.  He had completed a "practice run" on the day he died and was ready to go!  Todd was known by many as "Minot's Smartboard Guru" and shared his knowledge with teachers in the area, helping them understand how they could enhance their lessons as well.

When Todd was at Jim Hill Middle School, they had a "sister school" relationship with Whitsunday Anglican School in Mackay, Australia.  Their family made a trip to Australia together, and later Todd spent part of his summer vacation in the "sister school" and shared his love of teaching and use of technology with the teachers at Whitsunday.  It was this connection to Australia that led to the Magnuson family to be the home away from home for Carly and Christina Boag and later Caitlin McLachlan when they were student athletes at Minot State.  Todd was a basketball mentor for these young women and very quickly became their "Minot Dad". They continue to be part of the Magnuson family.

Wherever he taught, Todd coached.  He led the Surrey Mustangs boys basketball team to a 4 ^th place finish at the State Class B Tournament in 2001.  In Minot, the Minot High School Majettes made State Class A tournament appearances while Todd was their head coach in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and brought home the 2 ^nd Place trophy in 2014.  After a four-year reprieve due to health issues, Todd returned to the coaches' bench in 2018 for two more seasons as an assistant Girls Basketball coach.

As a coach Todd was well- respected and recognized.  He was named Western Dakota Association Coach of the Year in 2010 and Minot Daily News Coach of the Year in 2014.  As with his classroom students, his student-athletes benefited from his care and concern for them.

Todd's most passionate coaching experience was teaching the fundamentals of the game he loved to his son, Trevor, and his middle-school aged teammates on the Minot Magic Traveling team.  The Minot Magic won three State Youth Basketball championships in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Todd was a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Surrey, Heritage Singers male chorus, North Dakota High School Activities Association and the Minot Education Association.  He was a friend and colleague to many and will be deeply missed.  He especially enjoyed golf, softball, singing and traveling, however, his number one passion was time spent with his family and just hanging out at home with Marlys.

Todd's loving family includes his wife of 37 years, Marlys; children: Sarah (Daren) Seney of Minot and Trevor Magnuson of Fargo; granddaughter Aliyah Seney; mother, Irene Magnuson of Surrey; siblings: Tim (Ivy) Magnuson of Surrey, Thomas (Nancy) Magnuson, Terry (Donita) Magnuson and Toni (Kerry) Candrian all of Minot; in-laws Verla (Jim) Rostad and Curt (Wanda) Schall of Minot and Linda (Vern) Emerson of West St. Paul, MN as well as several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Todd was preceded in death by his father, Larry Allen Magnuson, parents-in-law Johnny and Mary Forness and sister-in-law Jenice Schall.

Celebration of the Life of Todd Magnuson: Private (due to the Coronavirus Pandemic Restrictions) at the Hope Lutheran Church – Surrey.  A livestream of Todd's service will be available for the public to attend remotely at https://www.mtmsales.net/live .  The service can be viewed for two weeks starting on Friday, April 3 at 11:00 a.m.
Visitation (due to the restrictions):  The public is welcome to attend a drive-by memorial procession through the ND State Fairgrounds on Thursday, April 2 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.  All vehicles should enter the fairgrounds from Burdick Expressway -East and will exit using 4 ^th Avenue N.E.  The family will be positioned in front of the ND State Fair Center, but all attendees must remain in their vehicles.
Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens – Minot.
In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials are preferred to the Hope Lutheran Church, Surrey, Majettes Girls Basketball Booster Club or the donor's choice.

Todd Magnuson Flower Pictures