Dr. Erdal Diri, MD

Minot

Dr. Erdal Diri, MD passed away Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center after a courageous four and a half month battle with cancer. He lived a life devoted to taking care of others and found joy in the company of people from all walks of life. He leaves behind a legacy of warmth, compassion, and generosity.

Erdal Diri was born in rural Tunceli (Dersim) Turkey on June 9, 1964. He was the youngest of five children. He spent the majority of his childhood, from the age of five, at a boarding school. This time made a lasting imprint on him. He strongly felt that no child should have to struggle, making him a strong advocate for schools and kids throughout his life.

He went on to continue his education at Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, at the University of Istanbul, making numerous friendships along the way, which he cherished for the rest of his life. He cared deeply about these relationships and could be heard daily calling and catching up with these important people in his life. He was a fiercely loyal friend.

After continuing his residencies and fellowship, he came to the US. He was a research fellow at Louisiana State University Medical Center, in New Orleans, and completed a clinical fellowship in Rheumatology, at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas, Texas, before coming to Minot in 2002, and making it his home. After looking out the window of a local restaurant that overlooked the Souris Valley while on a job interview, he knew that Minot was the right place for him. He enjoyed the simple beauty found in the scenery and people of North Dakota.

Erdal cared for thousands of patients in his 22 years at Trinity Hospital in Minot. He often spent his time after hours at the clinic calling patients and checking up on them and their families. He had a tremendous memory. When around town, he would see current and former patients and loved catching up with them. He could recall the spouses, children, and details of hundreds of people’s lives. He treated his patients as friends and family.

It was at Trinity that he met Alicia. On March 6, 2008, he married the love of his life, Alicia Norby, in St. Thomas. Although, the following day, their families were questioning if he had gotten cold feet when he lost his wedding ring on the bottom of the ocean floor. But in true testament to the strength of their marriage, the ring was spotted on the bottom of the ocean. Their boat captain dove down twenty feet and retrieved the ring.

In Erdal’s role as the consummate caretaker, he strove in both his personal and professional life to tend to the needs of all those around him. He truly appreciated and valued his nurses, support staff and fellow physicians. The most common way he showed his love of these people was by feeding them. He enjoyed treating others to boxes of doughnuts, lunch dates, and good food.

At family meals you could often hear, “No, Erdal we don’t need ten pizzas for nine people.” Of course, ten pizzas were ordered, because another one of Erdal’s traits was stubbornness. If something needed to be done, it needed to be done the right way. He enjoyed friendly competition and the banter that went along with it. He usually got the last word or story.

The greatest joy in his life came from his wife, Alicia, and their children, Sibelle, Dylan, and Mila. He was so proud of each of them, and strove daily to show them how much loved and cared for them.

His loving family includes: wife of 16 years, Alicia; children, Sibelle, Dylan, Mila; brothers, Hidir Diri, Muzaffer Diri, Sabri Diri; sister, Gülsüm Basum; brothers-in-law, Efendi Ersiz, Hüseyin Baim; nephews, Serdar Basim, Ã-zkan Ersiz, Hakan Ersiz, Ali Hir, Hasan Hir, Cem Diri, Güray Diri, Eray Diri, Mehmet Diri, Mert Can Diri, Bülent Dizi; nieces, Fatma SadicoÄŸlu, Saray Conpolat, Gül Sezer, Deray Bodur, Hülya GündoÄŸdu, Gülnaz Dizi, Deniz Dizi, Nuray Hir, Yeter Yesil, Songül Hayir, CiÄŸdem Altun, Gezer Kurtulmaz, Esengül Diri; and Pelin Basim, Sibel Hayir, Gül Diri, Bezer Diri, Naciye Diri, Melis Canpolat, Metin Canpolat, Sevim HüroÄŸlu, Murat Hir, Semra Hir, Selvi Hir, Nurhayat SadicoÄŸlu, Hatice Dogan, Baris SadicoÄŸlu, Levent Sezer.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Celebration of Life: Friday, October 18, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., at Nedrose High School Gymnasium, 5705 15th Ave SE, 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, October 16, 2024.