Mary Jo Merck

Minot

Mary Jo Merck, 86, Minot, ND, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Mary Jo McDonald was born July 8, 1937, in Minot, ND to Lester and Ruth McDonald of Deering, ND. She grew up in Deering with her three brothers and two sisters, many nearby aunts, uncles, and cousins and made lifelong friends from her community.

Mary Jo graduated from Deering High School in 1955 where she was active in choir and was a member of the girls’ basketball team–something her kids and grandkids were very impressed with!

Mary Jo met Bill Merck from Granville at a dance Bill was playing at. She knew right away he was the one for her! They were married at Little Flower Catholic Church in Minot on August 6, 1956. Mary Jo and Bill lived in Minot, Underwood, and then moved back to Minot for the majority of their married life. They worked together to build their family home on Belview Drive in Minot in the early 1960’s. The flood of 2011 resulted in them downsizing to a townhouse for the next 10 years. They lived at Somerset Court Assisted Living in Minot for a year when failing health led them to Bethel Lutheran Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Williston, ND in 2022. They were married more than 67 years when Bill passed away with Mary Jo by his side on February 4, 2024.

After high school she moved to Minot from Deering to help her Aunt Esther and family and attended night classes in bookkeeping at the Minot College of Business. She worked for a time at Palda, Palda & Peterson Attorneys, then began a long career in banking. Mary Jo worked at Union National Bank and for several years at American State Bank. Making a change, she went to work for Soil Conservation Service and eventually for the Department of Defense at Rivet Mile and finished her career with several years at Minot Air Force Base as secretary to the 5th Bomb Wing Commander. Mary Jo had several different Commanders during her years at the Base and she had great respect for them as well as all in Military service. She formed great relationships and made many friends throughout her working life that would stay in touch throughout the years. She played bridge for many years with her former bank co-workers, and attending the annual Base Secretary’s Christmas Party long after retirement was a highlight for her.

Mary Jo and Bill traveled whenever they could–summer family vacations when kids were young, a trip to Germany in the 70s, later in life, camping, and many other adventures. She was active in St. Leo’s Church for more than 60 years as an usher and member of the Confraternity. She and Bill loved to follow their grandchildren’s activities and always made time to attend school programs, sporting events, and their other endeavors. Visits from great-grandchildren were a highlight for both of them.

Mary Jo loved to host family dinners for holidays, summer picnics on the patio, late night breakfasts after the MDU Christmas parties, and family gatherings when family members visited from out of town. Any excuse to host! She loved to cook and bake–including at least a monthly

batch of homemade buns. The freezer was stocked with baked goods ready when someone stopped for coffee. Many friends and family were recipients of Mary Jo’s homemade Christmas Fruitcake. She and Bill didn’t hesitate to open their home and hearts to many extended family members. When time allowed, she loved to learn new things and took cake decorating and quilting classes. She loved music and played piano beautifully in her younger years. Sewing was another talent of hers.

Mary Jo loved her family dearly. Her sisters and brothers were very special to her. Her in-laws were also very important to her, and she and Bill kept in close contact with them and their nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family.

Mary Jo is survived by her three children, six grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren: sons Steven Merck and his wife Diane of Granville and their daughter Emily; Leslie Merck and his wife Pamela of Minot and their children Jessica (Matthew) Schlegel and their son Owen, and Eric Merck; daughter Deborah (David) Richter of Williston and their children Stephanie (Josh) Johnson and their children Parker, Brady, Lennon, Walker and Austyn; Douglas (Katelyn) Richter and their children Avery and Case; and Rachel (Luke) Lordemann. She is also survived by her brother Tom McDonald, sisters Carolyn Johnson, Teresa Cowan and sister-in-law LaRae McDonald, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, parents Lester and Ruth McDonald, mother and father-in-law Felix and Mary Merck, brothers James McDonald and Daniel McDonald, in-laws Wesley Johnson, William Cowan, Patricia McDonald, John Merck, Alex (Gerd) Merck, Joseph (Beverly) Merck, and Leo (Carolyn) Merck, Jane Sattler, Mary (Rudy) Jose, Regina (Carl) Kohoutek, Catherine (Roy) Duchscherer, Elizabeth (Vincent) Schaan, and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Harmony wing of Bethel Lutheran Home for the great care they took of Mary Jo.

Mass of Christian Burial: Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, Minot.

Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND.

Visitation: Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Vigil Prayer Service: Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

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 27, 2024.