Jerry Emmit Demaree

Jerry Emmit Demaree,

82, longtime Minot

resident, died Tuesday,

July 16, 2019 in a Minot

Nursing Home.

Jerry was born March

20, 1937 in Roach, North

Dakota the son of Rex and

Margaret (Matzdorf)

Demaree. He was raised

in Minot and educated in

Minot Schools. He en-

tered into active duty ser-

vice with the USAF on

August 3, 1954 and

honorably served his

country at Bentwaters Air

Force Base in England. It

was here that he met

Sheila Roberts and they

were united in marriage

on November 2, 1957.

They loved and cherished

each other, were partners

in every way and shared

many laughs and good

times together. After re-

ceiving his honorable

discharge in 1958, they re-

turned to North Dakota.

They made their home

in Minot, where he pur-

chased Rex’s Auto Wreck-

er from his father and

owned and operated the

business until 1992. He

was later employed with

A-1 Transmission in

Minot from 1992-2000

and then with Westlie

Motor Company in parts

delivery. Sheila died

February 21, 2016.

Jerry was a man dedi-

cated to his community.

He was a longtime

member of the Congrega-

tional United Church of

Christ in Minot, where he

had served as moderator,

deacon, usher and was ac-

tive with the bell choir.

He was also a member of

the Minot Moose Lodge,

where he served as gover-

nor and was a member of

the ritual team for 23

years. He attained the

status of Pilgrim Degree,

the highest honor obtain-

able within the organiza-

tion. He had also served

as Association President

for both North Dakota and

South Dakota. He was a

former member of the

Minot American Legion,

Elks Lodge and Eagle’s

Aerie. He enjoyed travel-

ing, camping and

snowmobiling.

Jerry will be missed by:

his children, Jan (Larry)

Abel, Williston, Dawn

(Dean) Godejohn, Minot,

Sarah Collins, Santa

Maria, CA and Andrew

Demaree, Minot; 6

grandchildren to include:

Laurel Abel, Amanda

Eichman, Tonya Cordova,

Natasha Rauchman, Ash-

ley Wald and Jessica Hov-

da; 11 great grandchil-

dren; siblings, David

(April) Demaree, Minot

and Billy (Maggie)

Demaree, Bismarck; sister

in law, Marlene Demaree,

Minot; several nieces,

nephews and cousins.

Jerry was preceded in

death by his parents, wife

of 59 years, Sheila; grand-

son, Joshua Abel; great

grandson, Austin Rauch-

man; sisters, June Flem-

mer and Donna Demaree;

and a brother, John

Demaree.

Funeral service:

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

at 11:00 a.m. in the

Congregational United

Church of Christ. Inter-

ment: Rosehill Memorial

Park, Minot.

Visitation: Tuesday,

July 23rd from 3:00-6:00

p.m. in the Thomas Fami-

ly Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials are pre-

ferred to the Congrega-

tional United Church of

Christ or Moose Lodge,

both Minot.

Dad, it is now time to

rest. Give mom a big hug

from each one of us and

we will see you both

when our time comes.

Those wishing to sign

the online memorial regis-

ter or share memories are

invited to use the expres-

sions of sympathy section

at

(www.thomasfamilyfuner

alhome.com)