Garrett W. Yonker, Jr.

Jr., 80, of Stanley went

home to be with his Lord

and Savior on Friday, July

12 at Mountrail County

Medical Center in Stan-

ley. A celebration of his

life will be held on Fri-

day, July 19 at 11:00 a.m.

at First Baptist Church in

Stanley. Visitation is

Thursday from 10 to 5 at

Springan Stevenson Fun-

eral Home in Stanley and

one hour prior to the ser-

vice in the church. Cre-

mation and burial in Fair-

view Cemetery at Stanley

will follow at a later date.

Garry was born on July

22, 1938, in Chicago, Il. to

Garrett W. and Mary

(Reed) Yonker Sr. He was

raised in Chicago, gra-

duating from CVS High

School. He attended

University of Illinois Navy

Pier and then Moody Bi-

ble Institute. He also at-

tended Judson College as

he continued his min-

isterial education. Later in

life he earned his Masters

Degree in Theology from

Northwest Nazarene Col-

lege in Boise, ID, while he

was pastoring in Weiser,

ID.

He met the love of his

life, Mary Ellen Spencer,

while attending Moody

Bible College. They were

married on July 2, 1960,

in Columbus, OH. Their

daughter, Mary, was born

on September 29, 1964 in

Chicago, Il.

Over the course of his

career he was a pastor in

Chicago, IL: Rapid City,

SD; Stanley, ND; Ken-

mare, ND; Weiser, ID; the

parish of Lisbon, Rutland

and Forman, ND before

retiring. After retiring

they moved back to Stan-

ley to be with their fami-

ly. He continued to serve

in interim and when

needed at First Baptist

Church in Stanley.

He was also a machinist

by trade and had worked

in several places includ-

ing Tioga Machine Shop

during their first pas-

torage in Stanley.

Garry was a gifted

musician and enjoyed

playing the piano, organ

and accordion. He en-

joyed a rousing game of

pinochle with family. He

had an infectious sense of

humor, even if you didn’t

always get the joke. Grow-

ing up in Chicago, he was

an avid Bears and Cubs

fan. He waited his whole

life for the Cubs to finally

win the World Series and

could be seen proudly

sporting their colors.

He and his wife, Mary,

were proud Blue Jay fans

and until the past few

years could be found at

nearly every home sport-

ing event.

He was a member of

First Baptist Church in

Stanley and a past

member of Stanley Lions

Club. He was also a past

volunteer for the Stanley

Volunteer Ambulance

Service.

He is survived by his

wife of 59 years, Mary of

Stanley; daughter Mary

(Dale) Kilen of Stanley;

granddaughter, Amanda

(Zach) Peterson of

Bismarck;

great-grandchildren, Car-

ter, Jozelyn and Abel

Peterson; brother-in-law,

Bill (Linda) Miller of

Columbus, OH; nieces

and nephews.

He is preceded in death

by his parents, his mother

and father-in-law Mary

and Clayton Miller,

brother-in-law Harold

Miller, and brother, Art

Yonker.

He was a devoted and

loving husband, father,

grandfather and

great-grandfather. God

bless his memory.

Memorials are pre-

ferred to Camp Bentley in

Drake, ND or First Baptist

Church in Stanley.

Online condolences

may be shared at

www.springanstevenson.c

om