Ferdinand ‘Fred’ Merck

He was born on Aug. 19, 1926, in Karlsruhe, to Jacob and Regina (Boehm) Merck. He was raised on the family farm and educated in Karlsruhe.

Fred entered the Army and was discharged honorably in 1947. He married Kathleen Schiff, of Norwich, on June 4, 1951.

Fred worked for the federal service of the United States Air Force and retired on Aug. 29, 1986, after 29 years of faithful service. He was chief of the material storage and distribution branch of the 91st Supply Squadron at Minot Air Force Base. He was selected as the Strategic Air Command’s outstanding U.S. Air Force Supply Civilian Supervisor of the Year for 1985.

Fred was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, in Minot, where he was an usher for many years. He enjoyed gardening, woodworking, painting, spending time with family and was an expert Nintendo and Wii player.

His loving family includes: his wife, Kathleen; sons, Kevin (Vicki) Merck, Minot, Craig (Joyce) Merck, Lincoln, Neb., Leon Merck, Grand Forks; daughter, Diane (Terry) Sullivan, Eagan, Minn.; grandchildren, Lawrance (Destiny) Merck, Lori Merck, Gene Merck, Michele Sullivan, Christina Sullivan, Kelsey Merck, Sonia Merck and Stacey Merck; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Eva Pinchero, of Detroit, Maryann Burckhard, Towner, Ida (Tony) Lauinger, Agnes Traiser, Angela (Emanuel) Klein and Regina (Dan) Feist, all of Minot, and Valeria Nystrom, Fargo; sisters-in-law, Cecilia Merck, Jean Merck, Beatrice Merck, Ardyth Merck, Madeline Miller, Janice (Bruce) Fuhrmann, Barbara (Wayne) Kemble; brother-in-law, John (Bev) Schiff; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Fred was preceded in death by: his parents; siblings, Mike Merck, Helen Klein, John Merck, Catherine Schmalz, Frank Merck, Christian Merck and Tony Merck; brothers-in-law, Joe Pinchero, Alex Schmalz, Pius Klein, Joe Burckhard, Irving Traiser, Milo Nystrom and George Miller.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial: Wednesday, March 19, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot.

Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, after the Mass.

Visitation: Tuesday, March 18, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Vigil Prayer Service: Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorials: Are preferred to Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot, or to an organization of the donor’s choice.

Those wishing to sign the online guest register or share memories of Fred may access the online obituaries at (www.thompsonlarson.com).