Michael Purdy

Michael J. Purdy, 66,

Minot, passed away on

Tuesday, April 5, 2022 in

his home under the care

of hospice with his family

by his side.

Michael James Purdy

was born on September

23, 1955, the son of Mark

F. and Elaine (Herigstad)

Purdy in Grand Forks,

ND, where his father was

attending law school. He

was raised and educated

in Minot, graduating from

Minot High School in

1973. Following gradua-

tion, Mike traveled

around the United States,

returning to North Dakota

to, as he put it “re-juice.”

Mike worked various

jobs following his return

including the construc-

tion of missile sites and

the Coal Creek Power

Plant. He began working

as a switchman/brakeman

on the Burlington North-

ern Railroad, a position

that would take him to

Fargo, Minot and Min-

neapolis. Mike attended

Moler Barber College, and

obtained his Barber

License. He returned to

Minot, and began working

at Town and Country

Barber Shop, prior to tak-

ing over Bernie’s North

Hill Barber Shop. He

would own and operate

Bernie’s for the next 21

years, retiring in 2020. On

July 17, 1998, he was un-

ited in marriage to Nancy

Novak, and welcomed her

two daughters into his

family.

In 1967, Mike took his

first guitar lesson, and

from that time forward he

was hooked. He played in

several bands throughout

his lifetime, including

High Fever, Dreamer and

The Fossils. He was a lov-

ing husband, father, son,

brother and friend. Mike

will be missed by all who

knew him.

Michael is survived by:

wife Nancy; children,

Triston (Marin) Desjarlais;

Mindy Werner, and Tanya

Cowart; grandchildren,

Enzo Michael Desjarlais,

Pierra Bella Desjarlais,

baby girl Desjarlais (due

in August), Jaydon and

Ashlee Werner, and Chloe

Cowart; stepmother Clar-

ice Purdy; nephew Jeff

(Heidi) Vanlaningham

and niece Sarah (Sean)

Anderson and uncle Paul

A. Purdy. Several cousins

also survive.

He was preceded in

death by his parents and

his only sister Diane Van-

laningham.

Visitation: There will be

no reviewal. However,

friends may sign a guest

register on Monday, April

11, 2022 one hour prior to

the service at the church.

Celebration of Life:

Monday, April 11, 2022 at

11 am at First Lutheran

Church, Minot. The ser-

vice will be livestreamed

and may be viewed at

FirstLutheran.tv

Burial: Sunset Memori-

al Gardens, Minot

Memorials may be

given in Michael’s honor

to the Souris Valley

Humane Society.

Thompson-Larson Fun-

eral Home, Minot