English: Looking east at the Aasheim Gate to Malone Centennial Mall on the campus of Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana.

Torlief S. Aasheim was from Reserve, Montana, and graduated in 1938 with a bachelor's degrees in agronomy from MSU. He later earned a master's of science in agriculture, and was named director of the Montana Cooperative Extension Service. He retired in 1974, but continued to do research. He developed the chemical fallow, now a common agricultural practice throughout the United States, as a retiree.

Aasheim was "Mr. MSU Fan", and he either established, re-established, re-energized, or refurbished a number of MSU traditions and landmarks. He paid to have the "M" on Mount Baldy refurbished in the 1990s, and whitewashing the "M" is now an annual pilgrimage for students. (There is also an "M Run" mini-marathon each year to it.) He also bought and installed the giant American flag in Brick Breeden Fieldhouse and pushed hard for all alumni and students to wear the big blue "Go Cat" buttons that are now omnipresent.

During his lifetime, Aasheim received nearly every award MSU could give -- including an honorary doctorate in 1996.

In 1997, Aasheim and his four brothers donated the Aasheim Gate to honor Sven and Marthea Aasheim -- Tor's parents who emigrated to the United States from Norway. The gate also honors all homesteaders in Montana history.

Torlief Aasheim died in January 2007 at the age of 93.