George Norman Trytten, 92, mathematician, college professor, and social justice advocate died Oct. 18, 2020, in Boise, Idaho. He suffered from Parkinson's Disease.

George was born in Pittsburgh, son of Merriam H. Trytten (Luther Class of 1916) Ph.D. (Albert Lea, Minn.) and Hedvig K. Froseth (Oslo, Norway) and attended Calvin Coolidge High School, graduating from the Woodward School for Boys in Washington, D.C. He served in the U.S. Army (1945-47) before earning degrees from Luther College (B.A. Mathematics 1951), University of Wisconsin, Madison (M.S. Mathematics 1953) and, concurrent to research at the Navel Ordinance Laboratory, University of Maryland, College Park (Ph.D. 1962). George met Phyllis Anna Rossing (B.A. Music 1952) as they performed together as students in the Luther College Orchestra, marrying in Madison, Minn., on Aug. 24, 1952. 

In 1962 Dr. Trytten began his tenure as Research Associate Professor and Acting Director of the Institute for Fluid Dynamics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Maryland College Park. In 1972 Dr. Trytten was invited to join the faculty of Luther College as professor and later as chair of the Mathematics department. Following his keen interest in research, he spent his sabbatical as visiting mathematician at the Technion, Haifa, Israel.

Upon his retirement from teaching, Dr. Trytten’s passion for social justice was expressed through his leadership with the greater Winneshiek County Habitat for Humanity, Lions Clubs International Vision program, the State of Iowa Foster Child Review Board, and the Decorah Community Free Clinic. He also tutored international students at Luther College and produced sound-filmstrips in mathematics for The Encyclopedia Britannica.

Pursuing a lifelong love of music, Dr. Trytten sang in the Luren Singing Society, the oldest Norwegian-American male chorus in America. In 2011 George and wife, Phyllis, relocated to Boise, Idaho, to be near daughter, Erica Helmick, of Garden City.  

George N. Trytten is preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Phyllis Anna (Rossing) Trytten ‘52, sister, Martha England, and grandson, Trygve Carlton Butler ‘13. Dr. Trytten is survived by five children, Erica M. (Trytten) Helmick ‘75, Christopher D. Trytten ‘77, Mona S. Butler, Olaf G. Trytten ‘82, Julia B. (Trytten) Hanus ‘94 as well as nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Interment of ashes will be at Decorah Lutheran Cemetery, at such a time as allows for friends and family to safely travel. Family suggests the following organizations for memorial donations:

Merriam H. Trytten Memorial Scholarship at Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, IA 52101

Habitat for Humanity for Winneshiek County (WCHFH), Box 457, Decorah, IA  52101

Decorah Community Free Clinic, 604 West Broadway Street, Decorah, IA 52101