Wayne Stewart

Minot and co-founder of

the Nielson-Stewart Inc.,

died Wednesday, June 26,

2019 in a Minot nursing

home.

Wayne was born on

June 19, 1917 to Ruther-

ford and Augusta

(Schulte) Hayes in Poplar,

Montana. He was raised

and educated in Eden Val-

ley Township of Renville

County and graduated

from Sherwood High

School in 1936.

Following his high

school graduation, Wayne

was employed near Town-

er for one year, then

worked in the Devils Lake

area, until attending

Minot Business College.

As a young adult he was

employed by Northwest

Auto Wrecking, Great

Northern Railroad and a

local autobody shop.

Wayne was once married

to Ethel Blair and they

were the parents of five

children.

Wayne partnered with

C.J. Nielson in 1949 and

together they formed Niel-

son Repair Shop known

as a premier truck repair

shop in Minot. He and his

son Jim, who joined the

firm in 1963, eventually

purchased Nielson’s

shares. Wayne married El-

izabeth “Betty” Haner in

October of 1971. They

made their home in Minot

and spent the winter

months in McAllen, Texas

for 31 years. Wayne re-

tired in 1981.

Wayne was a member

of Vincent United Metho-

dist Church, Moose

Lodge, Masonic Lodge

and Elks Lodge all in

Minot. He once served as

President of the Shrine

Club and Eagles Aerie

both of Minot. His hob-

bies and interests includ-

ed hunting, fishing, trav-

eling and working with

stained glass.

Wayne’s loving family

includes: his wife: Betty;

sons: James (Debbie)

Stewart of Minot, Allan

Stewart of Kingsland, GA

and Ronald (Janet)

Stewart of Ecuador;

daughter: Carole Smith of

Jacksonville, FL; stepchil-

dren: Allen and Paul Eids-

ness; sister: Dorothy

Bohm of Minot; brothers:

Donald of Sherwood and

William (Avis) of Souris;

grandchildren Brenda

Studley of Huntington

Beach, CA, Brian

(Michele) Stewart of

Grand Rapids, MI, Bridget

(Daniel) Smith of

Phoenix, AZ, Lori (Kevin)

Esplich of Wichita, KS,

Stacey (Michael) Chin-

nock of Lancaster, OH,

Dana (Chris) Dodge of

Niwot, CO, Shannon

Pratchler of Ashtabula,

OH, Richard Pratchler of

Erie, PA, Kenneth

Pratchler of Cincinnati,

OH and Kellie (Michael)

Fitz of Fargo, ND; 14

Great-Grandchildren and

several nieces, nephews

and cousins.

Wayne was preceded in

death by: his parents;

daughter: Sharon and si-

blings: Vernon, Berle, Ada

Ruth and Robert.

Celebration of the Life

of Wayne Stewart:

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

at 11:00 a.m. in Vincent

United Methodist Church,

Minot.

Visitation: Tuesday

from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00

p.m. in Thomas Family

Funeral Home, Minot.

Interment: Sunset

Memorial Gardens, Minot.

Memorials are preferred

to the Shriner’s Childrens

Hospital.

Memories and con-

dolences can be shared at

www.thomasfamily

funeralhome.com.