Wesley Hay

Minot

Wesley Hay, 95, Minot, died Monday, April 20, 2026, in a Minot assisted living facility.

Wesley Lee Hay was born on December 26, 1930, in Parshall, ND to Oscar and Pearl (Ryan) Hay Sr. He was the third of five children raised on the family farm in McLean County at Raub, ND. He was educated in country schools. The first five years in a school 1.5 miles south of their home, the last three years in a school 1.5 miles north of their home. The mode of transportation was horseback; sometimes there was two or three kids on a horse. There was a barn at each school for the horses to stay in during class. Sometimes the teachers lived in the schoolhouse.

Later, Wesley attended Minot Junior High School and Minot Senior High School. He graduated in the class of 1949. He then went to live with his aunt in Medford, MA, where he worked in a shop as a welder. His job was to make new and remodel old milk tanks. After a year he returned home to attend the State School of Science in Wahpeton, where he took a two year class in heating and ventilating. While waiting to be drafted, he went to work in the oil fields in Casper, WY as a roustabout. When the time came around to being drafted, Wesley was issued a 4-F. He then returned to work as a “cat skinner” for Hooves Co., where they built roads and did farm work.

In June of 1955, Wesley enlisted in the Army, working in the Army Security Agency Unit. He completed 3 months of basic training at Camp Chaffee, AR, and then three months of school in Fort Devens, MA. He later was stationed at Two Rock Ranch in Petaluma, CA for 2.5 years. It was here he met Dorothy Parmley, the love of his life, in January of 1956 while on a ski trip to Tahoe. They were united in marriage on October 20, 1956. Wesley was honorably discharged from the military on June 25, 1958.

Following his military service, Wesley and Dorothy made their home in Santa Rosa, CA. He joined the Operating Engineers Union in September 1958 and where he worked as a heavy equipment operator. In November 1961, Wesley and Dorothy adopted a daughter, Teri Lynne Hay, and later adopted a son, Darren I Hay, in October 1963. They would later add to their family with the birth of their daughter, Kelley J. Hay in October 1965, and the birth of their son, Timothy W. Hay in January 1968. They also welcomed Rigo Santos into the family as an adult honorary son and loved him dearly. Wesley remained working for the Union until retiring in 1990.

Wes and Dorothy joined the Lutheran Church in Santa Rosa, CA in 1959, where all of their children were baptized and confirmed. Wes held various offices in the church over the years as they remained longtime members.

Wesley was also a long-time member of the Masonic Lodge. He was made a Master Mason in 1977 and was made a Shriner and joined the Scottish Rite in 1979. He also joined the New York Rite bodies. In 1995 and 1996 Wesley returned to work in Estes Park, Colorado, where he spliced copper wire on telephone poles.

In 2005, Wesley and Dorothy moved to Minot, where they built their dream home on 13th St SE. Wesley continued his membership as a Master Mason, and held offices in all the masonic bodies in Santa Rosa and Minot, enabling him to be awarded the K.Y.C.H. title. He was the master of Luther Burbank Lodge #752 in Santa Rosa and the Star In The West Lodge #33 in Minot. He also belonged to the Scottish Rite bodies in both places. In 2012, he was invested with the rank and decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor. In 2015, he elevated to the 33 degree with the rank and decoration of Inspector General Honorary.

In addition to the Masonic Lodge, Wesley was also a member of the Moose Lodge in both Santa Rosa and Minot, and a member of Living Word Church in Minot.

In his free time, Wesley enjoyed spending November through March every year visiting grandkids in Santa Rosa with his wife Dorothy. He also enjoyed going to auctions, fishing, and hunting. Upon Dorothy’s passing in 2020, Wesley moved to a Condo in SE Minot and spent his days going to the gym and spending the rest of the day on the TV or computer. He moved to the Minot Lodge in February 2025, were he made many new friends and enjoyed the care he received from the genuine and friendly staff members. He broke his hip in September 2025 and made even more friends while under the exceptional care of CaringEdge for home health and physical therapy.

Wesley lived his life on his own terms, and transitioned to his new, forever life the same. He was much loved and touched many lives, and will be deeply missed until we see him again.

Wesley is survived by his children, Teri (Scott) Dalby, Minot, ND, Darren (Barbara) Hay, Canton, GA, Kelley Hay, Minot, ND, Tim (Maria) Hay, Santa Rosa, CA, and honorary son, Rigo Santos, Vallejo, CA; 12 grandchildren: Jared, Greg, Tara, Dusten, Darina, Derek, Danielle, Brittany, Kassie, Lauren, Ryan, and Nicholas; and one great-grandchild, Sloane Ida.

Wesley was preceded in death by his parents Oscar and Pearl (Ryan)Hay, and four siblings, Lois Hilleren, Oscar Hay, John Hay, and Roxy Severance.

A celebration of the life of Wesley Hay will be held at Living Word Lutheran Church in Minot on May 2, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. A recording of the service will be available on the funeral home website.

Memorials are preferred to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.

Published by The Minot Daily News, April 25, 2026.