Dr. Paul A. Purdy

Minot

Paul Anthony Purdy, 90, beloved husband, father, dentist, veteran, avid traveler and skilled conversationalist, passed away peacefully from respiratory and heart conditions on April 12, 2024, in a Minot hospital surrounded by his family.

Born on April 7, 1934, in Minot, North Dakota, Paul was the youngest of five children and the son of Mark and Edna (Lafleur) Purdy. At the tender age of two, he faced the loss of his father to pneumonia. Paulás widowed mother raised her five children as a single parent during some of the countries toughest economic times of the Great Depression. Paulás mother was able to keep the family together with the help of son, Michael Purdy, who was 17 years older than Paul and left his college studies at St. John’s University in Minnesota to work for the railroad, the help of extended family, and the Franklin D. Roosevelt welfare program, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, created the year prior. For the Purdy family, brother Mike’s selfless act and the government assistance allowed Paul and his siblings to stay together and become productive educated adults that included, two lawyers, a dentist, a railroad executive and an office administrative assistant.

In his youth, Paul developed a love for travel that continued throughout his life. In April of 1945, Paul, age 11, traveled by train with his brother Jim, who was 14, to Seattle, WA using their family’s complementary railroad pass from their deceased father’s job as a Great Northern Railroad Engineer. They went to visit their older sister, Patsy, who was serving in the Women’s Army Corps (WACs). Paul later recalled seeing the war damaged aircraft carriers, USS Saratoga, with holes caused by kamikaze attacks, and the USS Wasp (CV-18), while both ships were being repaired.

Paul attended Roosevelt Elementary School in the first grade and St. Leoás Catholic School from the second to the twelve grades, graduating in 1952. At St. Leoás, Paul was a five-year letter winner in football and basketball. Paul attended St. Johnás University near St. Cloud, Minnesota, where he studied pre-dental coursework. After just two years at St. John’s, Paul was accepted into the Loyola University of Chicago School of Dentistry where he graduated with his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree in 1958. Upon graduating from dental school, Paul answered the call to serve his country, volunteering in the U.S. Air Force as a dentist. During his service, he was stationed in Tachikawa, Japan, near Tokyo from 1958 to 1960.

Paulás admiration for the Kennedy family led to several memorable encounters that he treasured throughout his life. In November of 1960, Paul embarked on a month-long auto trip from Minot to the East Coast and back. During his trip, Paul traveled to Rhode Island, where he learned on the news that John F. Kennedy was to speak on the steps of City Hall in Providence on November 7, 1960, the last day of the Presidential campaign. Paul attended and arrived early, positioning himself near the front of a crowd that grew to 40,000 enthusiastic supporters. Paul heard JFK speak, documenting the experience with color slide photographs taken on his Ricoh 35mm camera purchased in Japan. Paul, an avid amateur photographer, was rightfully proud of these photographs, for Paul’s vivid color slide images captured the young future President better than any newspaper photographer shooting that day in black and white. Two days later on November 9, 1960, Paul went to Hyannis Port, MA where he walked along the beach to slip past the security, to meet, photograph and shake the hand of Robert F. Kennedy on the lawn of the Kennedy residential compound. Paul also was greeted by a waive from JFK (in the first hours of him being President-Elect), his wife Jackie and other Kennedy family members through the large picture window of the Joseph Kennedy residence.

On June 13, 1964, Paul married Mary Kathryn Anderson in Minot, ND at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. Paul and Mary both attended St. Leoás High School at the same time but did not know each other due to a five-year age difference. They each grew up and went their separate ways, pursued college, leading to dentistry for Paul and teaching for Mary. Problems with a wisdom tooth led Mary, on the advice of her sister, Sylvia, to schedule an appointment with the handsome, young and single Dr. Paul Purdy. They chatted, and Paul observed to himself, âMy goodness, this is a pretty girl.ã Mary reminded Paul of Grace Kelly, the actress-turned princess. Very soon, Paul asked Mary out for dinner on a Saturday night. She said, âThat would be just fine,ã an expression that came to have special meaning to Paul and Mary throughout their 41 years of marriage. Mary passed away in 2005 with Paul at her side.

Paul and Mary made their home on 28th Street in Minot where they raised their three sons, Thomas, Timothy and Robert. Paul and Mary enjoyed travelling with their boys. When their boys were small, the family traveled around the US and Canada in a travel trailer. Paul and Mary later did considerable traveling on their own throughout the US and abroad.

After his Air Force service, Paul practiced dentistry in Minot for 43 years. Paul retired in 2005 to help care for Mary during her time of illness. In Minot, Paul was known for his affordable dental fees, compassionate care and unwavering commitment to serving his community. Paul practiced dentistry in the same location, the First Avenue Building, for his entire career in Minot. This is the same building that was occupied by a hardware store owned by Paulás grandfather, Napoleon Lafleur, in the 1920s.

After Mary’s passing, Paul continued to travel, enjoyed many friendships and spent a great deal of time with his three sons and their families in Las Vegas.

Paul Anthony Purdy will be dearly missed but remembered for his passions in life: family, music, photography, politics, the art of conversation and travel. His legacy lives on in the hearts of his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Paul is survived by his son, Thomas (Chantanee) Purdy, Minot, ND and granddaughters, Maleah and Aris, son, Timothy (Suzanna) Purdy, Bismarck, ND, and grandsons, Tyler Jude, Jake, and Sean, and granddaughter, Lexi, son, Robert (Clarissa), Las Vegas NV, and grandsons, Robert II and John II, and granddaughter, Luciana.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Mary (Anderson); his parents, Mark and Edna Purdy; his older brothers, Michael, Mark and James; and his older sister, Patricia Purdy.

The Purdy family sincerely thanks all staff of Trinity Homes and Hospital. Paul’s family requested much of the staff at both facilities and they are grateful for the patience, care and professionalism Paul and his family received.

Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot.

Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND.

Visitation: Friday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Vigil Prayer Service: Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers or any other monetary gift, the family requests that you donate the money to your own travel fund; when possible, you take a trip, preferably with family members; and while on that trip you engage in the art of conversation in honor of Paul’s memory.

The service will be livestreamed for the public to view and can be accessed by going to the Thompson-Larson Funeral home website: www.thompsonlarson. com.

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson. com).

Published by The Minot Daily News April 23, 2024.