Fred Mayer

Glenburn

Fred Mayer, 86, Glenburn, passed away on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at a Garrison assisted living facility.

Fred was born on August 11, 1938 in St. Louis, MO, to Eugene and Dorothy (Forsberg) Mayer. He moved with his parents in 1944 to what was then the secret city Oak Ridge, TN, where his father was employed by the U.S. War Department in the Manhattan Project. Fred attended Highland View Grade School and Jefferson Junior High. In 1953, the family moved to Kingston, TN. They lived near the Tennessee River where Fred spent a lot of time fishing and also working part time at the local grocery store. After graduating from Roane County High in 1957, he joined the U.S. Air Force and received his basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX. He was first assigned to the Air Police detachment of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Forbes AFB in Topeka, KS, and from there to the bases in the Azores; Madrid, Spain; Boulough AFB in French Morocco; and finally, to Minot AFB.

During his time at Minot, he met and married Myrna Gowin, daughter of Harold and Ruby Gowin. They were married on July 14, 1961 in Glenburn. The couple moved to Tennessee and lived with his parents for two months before moving to Gadsden, AL for one year where he was employed as a routeman for Mell-O Dairy. They moved back to North Dakota in December 1962 and lived on the Gowin farm that they would purchase in 1973 and here they raised their family.

Fred enjoyed going to the children’s school activities and sporting events, even though it meant shutting down the tractor early some evenings and traveling “half way across the state”. Fred was actively engaged in raising grain and livestock, although he was also involved in several other ventures and off-farm jobs during the years. He retired from farming in 2004 and sold the last of his cattle in 2014. Fred was employed as a part-time security officer for Burdick Job Corps in Minot in 1998, going full time on the night shift from 2005 until November 2015.

Fred was a member of First Baptist Church in Glenburn, where he received Christ as his Saviour and was baptized in 1963. He served on the deacon and trustee boards and various other committees.

Fred is survived by his wife of 63 years; sons, Jeff (Barb) Mayer, Upham, ND, Mike (Nancy) Mayer, Pasco, WA, Hugh Mayer, Manhattan, KS; daughter, Kris (Daran) Wyckoff, Spokane Valley, WA; 7 grandchildren, Casey Mayer, Shelby (Daniel) Zemski, Benjamin (Raeann) Mayer, Katie Mayer, Ashley Wyckoff, Ciara (Jordan) Dehal, and Nathan (Holly) Wyckoff; 3 great-grandchildren, Noa and Ariah Dehal and Owen Mayer; 4 step-grandchildren, Kelly Tiffany, Mandy (Jason) Hall, Casey Andel, and Bob (Betsy) Andel; and their extended families; brother, Donald (Sue) Mayer; nephew, Todd (Angela) Mayer and their children Benjamin and Kylie (twins) and Henry.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 11 am at First Baptist Church in Glenburn. The service will be livestreamed for the public to view and can be accessed by going to the First Baptist Church Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/fbcglenburn. Burial will follow at Bethany Lutheran Cemetery in rural Glenburn. Visitation will be on Friday, October 25

from 5-7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home in Minot. 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 23, 2024.