Anthony "Tony" Frank Tortorice

Anthony F. Tortorice of Moorhead, MN, passed away at his home on Thursday, June 4, 2026.

Anthony “Tony” was born on December 25, 1940, to Paul and Josephine (Valenti) Tortorice, in a farming community, east of Trinidad, Colorado, known as Sunflower Valley.

Tony went to a one-room schoolhouse with siblings and cousins as students, and even the teacher was also a cousin for grades 1 through 8th grade, graduating from Hoehne High School in 1958. While still in high school, he and his brother Joe enlisted in the Colorado Army National Guard 122nd Medical Company.

After graduation, on September 19, 1960, the two brothers started their 6-month basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Fort Sam Houston, Texas; completed duty on March 11, 1961.

On October 15, 1961, Tony was activated back into active duty at Fort Polk, Louisiana, during the “Bay of Pigs” invasion. Then released from active duty in the fall of 1962.

In the spring of 1963, Tony started working for the Santa Fe Railroad in Denver, Colorado, as an extra board or a fireman, and as a brakeman.

In 1968, Tony went to work for the U-Haul company in Denver, and then, the president of U-Haul of Fargo, North Dakota, South Dakota, and a part of Minnesota, after 52 years of service, he retired in 2020.

Tony married Eileen Wakley on July 26, 1969. In April of 1969, they moved to Moorhead, MN. They had one son, Erik. He was born on August 23, 1975. Erik married Melissa Capouch in October 2001, and they had 3 children: Anthony (22), Alex (18), and Talia (14).

Tony’s hobbies were his love of horses and riding. His heavy foot led to his passion for drag racing and fast cars, which led to his collection of vehicles and motorcycles.

He loved to live on the wild side but also had a passion for growing apple and plum trees, vegetable gardening, and sharing the produce with his “fellow Americans”.

Tony is survived by his wife, Eileen; sister, Bernadette Dickinson, sister-in-law, Charlene Tortorice; daughter-in-law, Melissa Tortorice-Vorwerk (Joshua); grandchildren, Anthony, Alex, and Talia; sisters-in-law, Carol (Ed) Brennesholtz, Bobbie Wakley; and many beloved nieces and nephews; and grand nieces and nephews.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Josephine, and his two brothers, Joe and Paul, and their son, Erik; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert and Emma Wakley.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 15, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Interment will follow at Fargo National Cemetery.