Norman Mehlhoff
July 2, 1937-Jan. 15, 2021
Norman Mehlhoff, 83,
Bismarck, ND formerly of
Garrison, a beloved hus-
band, father, grandfather,
great-grandfather, passed
away, surrounded by his
loving family on Friday,
January 15, 2021.
Visitation will be held
at the Thompson Funeral
Home in Garrison on Fri-
day from 4 to 7. Funeral
services will be held Sa-
turday January 23rd at
11:00 am at Bethel Luth-
eran Church in Bismarck.
Viewing will start at 9:30
a.m. at the church.
A livestream of the ser-
vice will be available on
the church’s website:
bethelbismarck.com or at
www.facebook.com/
garrisonthompsonfh.
Burial will be held at
the North Dakota Veterans
Cemetery in rural Man-
dan, ND.
Norman was born July
2, 1937 to Jacob and
Amelia (Bauch) in rural
Coleharbor. His family
later moved to Garrison
where he was raised and
educated. He graduated
from Garrison High
School in 1955. He was
very active in the FFA
during his high school
years. Norman always had
a love for music. He was a
first chair member of the
Garrison High School
Band and played baritone
for 5 years.
Norman joined the
International Union of
Operating Engineers Local
#49 in 1956. He worked
for various road construc-tion companies including
Northern Improvement &
Bechtold Excavating,
Peter Kiewit Sons Co.,
where he was foreman,
blade operator and did
finishing work on many
road projects.
During that time, he
played for and met
President Eisenhower
during the dedication of
the Garrison Dam.
Norman enlisted in the
Army National Guard in
1962 and served for 4
years.
Norman and Laura Mill-
er met on a blind date and
shortly thereafter they
were married on October
19, 1963 in Hazen ND.
They lived in Garrison
until moving to Bismarck
in 2012. During their
marriage of 57 years, they
raised 3 beautiful
daughters. Debbie, Val
and Joy.
Norman and Laura
bought a farm outside of
Garrison. He loved farm-
ing and working the land.
This was an extension of
his meticulous landscap-
ing and an eye for detail
at their home in Garrison
which everyone admired.
His love for the beauty in
everything is a quality
that we will miss deeply.
Norman retired at the
young age of 55.
Norman loved to spend
time with his family,
especially hanging with
the sons-in-law! He was
always thinking about
how things could work
better and if things were
“square” was a term he
used a lot. He was always
interested in “what do ‘ya
know?” and continued to
educate us with stories of
the past. He was a one
and done kind of guy. If
he saw it once, he didn’t
need to go see it again or
do it again!
In his early years Nor-
man like to golf, bowl and
was a great pool player.
He also loved the Christ-
mas season. Holiday
music filled the house,
and the family tree and
lights were decorated to
perfection!
He was a member of the
Hugh P. Minehan Ameri-
can Legion Post #49 of
Garrison and was a
member and elder of
Peace Lutheran Church in
Garrison where he taught
Sunday school for several
years. Currently a
member of Bethel Luth-
eran Church in Bismarck.
Norman passed away
from a short battle of
PCNS Lymphoma and an
almost year-long battle of
Trigeminal Neuralgia.
Norman is survived by:
his wife of 57 years Laura,
Bismarck; 3 daughters,
Debbie (Jon) Hansen of
Ryder; Val (Brandt) Bai-
ley, Bismarck; Joy (Troy)
Fast, Bismarck; 5
grandchildren, Erica
(Christopher) Brewer, Vel-
va; Bridget Klosterman,
Moorhead MN; Karley
(Allen) Porter, Makoti; Mi-
Kayla and Madisyn Fast,
Bismarck;
great-grandchildren, Tris-
tan Brewer, Hope Brewer,
Ayden Klosterman, and
Kealey Klosterman;
sisters-in-law, Eleanor
Mehlhoff, Garrison, and
Arlene Mehlhoff, Minot.
He was preceded in
death by: parents Jacob
and Amelia, brothers Ed-
mund, Reuben, Roy (Dar-
lene), Arnold (Adeline),
Aleck (Esther), Curtis
(Lois & Bonnie) Sisters:
Alma (Sam) Eslinger,
Rena (Willie) Weishaar
and infant sister Kather-
ine.
Norman was the last
surviving family member
of 12 and now is reunited
with them in Heaven.
To sign the online regis-
ter, go to www.garrison
thompson.com.