Melvin Fischer, 87, of Solen, ND, passed away on October 11, 2021 at Sanford Health in Bismarck while surrounded by his loving family.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, October 15, 2021, at Bismarck Funeral Home. Burial will follow at the St. Anthony Cemetery. A Livestream of the Service will be available on the Bismarck Funeral Home Facebook page.
Visitation will be held Thursday, October 14, 2021, from 5:00-7:00 PM at Bismarck Funeral Home, with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue at the funeral home one hour prior to the service on Friday.
Melvin was born on May 30, 1934, to Elmer and Clara (Jerabek) Fischer. He never received a formal education as he had to work the family ranch. At the age of 5 he was plowing with a team of horses. He always knew of hard work.
In early 1958 he met his future bride, Antonia Vogel, and they were married on October 21, 1958 in Odense, ND. In a few days they would have celebrated their 63 rd anniversary. They built themselves a farmstead in a coulee, where they raised six children, 5 boys and 1 girl.
Melvin worked as a surveyor’s assistant on the Garrison Dam in 1953, on the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1959, on road construction in Newell, SD, in 1960, and on the interstate bridge over the Missouri River in 1967 while at the same time ranching, eventually ranching full time.
Melvin was a self-made man that was not afraid to speak his mind on topics of interest. And he never was afraid of work, believing hard work was the key to success. He enjoyed dancing the polka, going to the casino to visit friends, working with the cattle, and riding the ATV.
Melvin will be deeply missed by his wife, Antonia (Solen, ND), and five sons: Delvin (Rochelle) of Colorado Springs, CO; Dale (Jonah) of Mandan, ND; Curtis of Bismarck, ND; Cletus (Lynn) of Minot, ND, and Denise (Elaine) of Bismarck, ND; and one daughter, Edwina (Michael) Ford of Williston, ND; many grandchildren and great grandchildren; and his sister, Patricia Kuntz of Lincoln, ND.
Melvin is preceded in death by his father (Elmer), mother (Clara), two infant sons (Barnett and Dervin); sister (Marlene Vogel), and brothers-in-law (Dominic Vogel and Gilbert Kuntz).