Mervin J Simon

Mervin J. Simon, age 68 of Park River, ND passed away on Thursday, December 27, 2018 at the Altru Hospital of Grand Forks, ND.

Mervin Simon was born May 10, 1950 in Devils Lake, ND, the son of the late Orvaille and Alfreda (Mueller) Simon. The family moved to Minot, Mayville, Calio and in 1955 to Park River, ND. Merv began school in Park River in 1956 and graduated from the Walsh County Agricultural School in 1968. He worked for Porter Auto Wrecking until March of 1970 when he was drafted into the Army. After receiving training Ft. Lewis Washington, Merv went to AIT in Ft. Riley Kansas and then was sent to Augsburg Germany where he was a track vehicle mechanic. Merv was honorably discharged in January of 1972. Following his discharge he returned to Park River where he worked various jobs. In March of 1973 Merv went to work at McKay Implement in Gilby, ND and in June of 1973 married his best friend and love of his life Marilyn Dvorak. They lived on a farm near Gilby until the spring of 1974 when they moved to Grand Forks, ND where Merv was employed by Nodak Contracting. In December of 1974 they moved to Park River and Merv worked at KAP Inc. repairing farm machinery. In 1983 he started Simon’s Repair. He went farm to farm repairing tractors, trucks and farm equipment. Merv and Marilyn adopted their son Christopher in 1986. In 1999 he went to work at Oppegard’s in Park River and in 2001 to Hanson Implement in Grafton. He went out to farms in a service a truck and did trouble shooting and repairing of farm equipment. In 2004 Merv began employment at North Star Coop where he was the foreman of the repair shop until 2015 when he retired. After retirement Merv worked at Kjelland Farms doing various farm work. He enjoyed this kind of work and loved going there each day.

Besides being an expert diesel mechanic, Merv was a fantastic carpenter. He built a beautiful 3000 sq ft home on their farmstead by Conway. Merv and Marilyn lived on the farm from 1978-2017 when they moved to Park River and remodeled a home where they presently lived.

Merv belonged to Knights of Columbus council 5055. He held the office of Recorder, Deputy Grand Knight and then Grand Knight. They went to church at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Conway where Merv was a Parish Council Trustee. Merv was the Secretary Treasurer of the Park River Men’s Bowling Association. He enjoyed hunting, trapping and fishing. The couple spent 13 years going to Sunset Shores resort in Detroit Lakes, MN.

He is survived by his forever love, Marilyn, Park River, ND, son Christopher, Jamestown, ND, siblings: Faye (George) Moen, Cheryl (Tim) Daley, Arlen Simon, Marlowe Simon, and Curtis (Candy) Simon, all of Park River, ND and Lynette (Alleyn) Olsonoski, Fessenden, ND, sister-in-law Caroline (Daryl) Hovland, Grand Forks, ND, uncle Pete (Donna) Laturnus, Munich, ND, uncle Robert (Monica) Mueller, St. Cloud, MN, and aunt Rosemary Simon, Waubun, MN. Several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Keith, Gerald and Alan, sister Luetta and sister-in-law Monica Simon.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 10:30 A.M. at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Park River. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5-7 with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at the church. Friends may also call at the church for one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Military rites will be provided by the Pisek American Legion Post #208 and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard. Inurnment will be at the St. Mark’s Catholic Cemetery of Conway in the spring.