Jon Kerian

Oct. 23, 1927-June 25, 2008

Jon Kerian, a former district court judge in Minot, died Wednesday, June 25, 2008, in a Madison, Wis., hospital. He was 80 years old.

Jon Robert Kerian was born on Oct. 23, 1927, in Grafton, a son of Cyril R. and Elizabeth A. (Kadlec) Kerian. He was raised and educated in Grand Forks, graduating from Central High School and the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. He served in the U.S. Army in the Korean conflict.

Mr. Kerian married the former Sylvia Larson on Dec. 28, 1959, in Grand Forks.

He began practicing law in Grand Forks in 1958 and became an assistant attorney general with the North Dakota Department of Transportation in 1962. He also taught at Bismarck Junior College, now Bismarck State College.

From 1968 to 1980, he practiced law in Minot. Gov. Arthur Link appointed him as judge in the Northwest Judicial District in1980. He later was elected to the position in 1980 and again in 1986. He continued as a surrogate judge after his retirement in 1992.

He had served as assistant Minot city attorney and president of the Ward County Bar Association, the North Dakota State Bar Association and the Western States Bar Conference. He had been a member of the Board of Governors of the National Conference of State Trial Judges, editor of the State Trial Judges newsletter, a member of the Board of Editors of "The Judges Journal," a member of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity and chairman of the North Dakota State Head Start Policy Council.

He was known as a music enthusiast and collector of classical and jazz albums. He provided program Notes for the audience during presentations by the Minot Symphony Orchestra. He was active in the Knights of Columbus and was involved at one time in the Democratic-NPL Party. He was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Minot.

Jon R. Kerian is survived by: his son John F. Kerian of Minot; his daughter Ann Fish, her husband, Jimmy, and their children Noah and Benjamin all of Waterloo, IA; his brother Robert Kerian and his wife, Elaine, of The Woodlands, Texas; and his sister Bernadette Campbell of Jackonsville, Fla.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife Sylvia, who died on Sept. 29, 2005.

Funeral: Tuesday, July 1, 2008, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot.

Burial: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.

Visitation: Today from noon to 7 p.m. in Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Vigil prayer service: Tonight at 7 in the chapel of Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials are preferred to the Jon Kerian Scholarship of the UND Foundation. (3100 University Ave. Grand Forks ND 58202)

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).