Wayne Turner

Wayne Edward Turner, 93, Bismarck, formerly of New Town, passed away Saturday, March 7, 2015, at St. Vincent’s Care Center, Bismarck, with family by his side.

Wayne was born May 28, 1921, in Van Hook, to Lloyd and Stella (Sumner) Turner. Wayne grew up on a farm near Van Hook and attended a country school through the eighth grade.

In 1940 a new school teacher, Ms. Margaret Smith moved to the area and taught at the country school. Wayne courted Margaret and on Aug. 2, 1941, they married and began their life together. Wayne and Margaret had four children: John, Judith, Robert and Brian. Wayne was never afraid of a new adventure. Shortly after they were married they farmed in the Van Hook area. In the mid-1950s Wayne and Margaret decided to move their family to the “New Town” created when the Garrison Dam was constructed. Wayne then worked in the Coast-to-Coast store until purchasing a dry cleaning business, which he knew little about, but his entrepreneurial spirit attracted him to this new opportunity. Later Wayne went from cleaning clothes to cleaning cars, when he converted the dry cleaning business into Turner Car Wash in the early 1970s. Wayne faithfully ran his car wash until he was 90 years old. He was always committed to the people of the community, making sure the car wash was open and running 365 days a year.

Morning coffee at the cafe with his friends, golfing (with the best golf cart on the course) and always looking for a new course to play, cheering on the Minnesota Twins and Sunday drives with his family were among some of his favorite things. Wayne and Margaret enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and Canada, always by car, so they could enjoy and photograph the scenery along the way.

In the summer of 2011 Wayne moved to St. Vincent’s Care Center in Bismarck where he lived until the time of his death. During the years he lived in Bismarck, Wayne loved to spend time with his grandkids and great-grandkids. He loved going out for lunch with family and would never turn down homemade tomato soup or Wisconsin cheese soup whenever his grandkids or daughter showed up with it.

Wayne is survived by: his daughter, Judith (Larry) Schell, Mandan; son, Robert (Sheila) Turner, New Town; one sister, Mildred Roggenbuck, Stanley; 12 grandchildren, Kimberly Braun, New England, Kaylene (Curt) Haider, Shannon (Lori) Schell, Weston, Fla., Suzanne (David) Schweigert, Bismarck, Stephanie (Jared) Kovarik, South St. Paul, Minn., Tracy Turner, New Town, Tamra Turner, Denver, Steven (Elizabeth) Schell, Asheville, N.C., Tammy (Donny) McReynolds, Red Oak, Texas, Toby (Kim) Turner, Dickinson, Scott (Shannon) Schell, West Fargo, and Terry (Eric) Halverson; 24 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by: his loving wife of 53 years, Margaret; two sons, John and Brian; one infant son; his parents, Lloyd and Stella Turner; one brother, Howard Turner; and two sisters, Nadine Skogstad and Joyce Larson.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be: 4 p.m. Thursday, March 12, at Bismarck Funeral Home, Bismarck.

Go to www.bismarckfuneralhome.com to sign the online guestbook or to share memories with the family.