Donald Merchant

Don was born on February 8, 1925 to Cyril and Emily (Rezac) Merchant in rural Abercrombie, ND. He grew up and attended school in the Galchutt-Abercrombie area. In his younger years he played baseball for Galchutt and was asked to play on an amateur team that went to the state championship. At age 17, Don went to Washington to work in the shipyards. He then entered the US Army and served as a Staff Sergeant during WWII in the European Theater where he received the Bronze Star for a heroic act on Nov. 25, 1944.

After the war, Don returned to the family farm near Abercrombie and farmed with his family on the grain and livestock farm. He was united in marriage to Viola Ellis Wold on December 26, 1959 in Lisbon, ND. They lived and raised their family on the farm and Don retired in 1980. They continued to live on the farm but spent 20 plus fishing seasons living in the A-frame cabin at Pick City on Lake Sakakawea. Don was proud to serve as Vi's fishing guide all those years.

Don was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church and was active on the church council in past years. He was also a 66 year member of the Oie-Wold-Leland American Legion Post No. 282 out of Galchutt. Besides fishing he was also an avid hunter and bowler. No matter how busy the farming was, Don always made it to all his kid's activities, and he enjoyed the time spent with his grandchildren or any of the other local children that would come by for ice cream.

Don is survived by his wife over 51 years, Viola Merchant, Wahpeton, ND; his son, Jim (Karen) Merchant, Billings, MT; his three daughters, Brenda Keller, Katy, TX, Teresa Palomino, Forest Lake, MN, Rosemarie (Russ) Adair, Forest Lake, MN; his four grandchildren, Ashley and Michael Merchant, Billings, MT, Jessica Palomino, Forest Lake, MN, Ben (Melissa) Adair, Blaine, MN; his two sisters, Maxine Strand, Minot, ND, Nancy Lunneborg, Hawley, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Richard and Robert Merchant; his sisters, Margaret Johnson, Carol Leake; his brothers-in-law, Marvin Johnson, Robert Leake, Robert Strand, and Wayne Lunneborg.