Milton Bowen

Minot

Milton Bowen, 84, Minot and formerly of Ryder, died peacefully on Tuesday, April 2, 2025, in his home.

Milton Willard Bowen was born on July 7, 1940, in Ryder to Jim and Phyllis (Olson) Bowen. He was raised on a farm near Ryder and graduated from Ryder High School in 1958. He attended Minot State Teachers College for one year and then moved on to the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton where he received specialized training in auto and diesel mechanics.

After graduating in May 1961, he moved to Minot and worked for Reggie’s, a transmission shop, for a short time before moving to Grand Forks where he was employed at Forks Motor. Milton married Sandra Scholl in September 1962 in Hendrum, Minnesota. They resided in Grand Forks where their first child Nancy was born in June 1963.

Milton secured a job at Nelson Motors in Minot and moved the family from Grand Forks in the fall of 1963. In March 1965 their second child Kevin was born. Milton left Nelson Motors to begin employment at Holiday Gas Station where he remained employed until the Flood of ’69.

In July 1970 their third child Lynnae was born and shortly after they moved to the family farm near Ryder where Milton was raised, to begin farming with his dad. Due to the farming economy during that time, it was decided the family would return to Minot. Prior to moving the family back to Minot he found a job with Peterson Mobile Homes, starting his long time career in the mobile home business. Shortly after moving back to Minot their fourth child Richelle was born in April 1972.

Peterson Mobile Homes eventually became Grabinger Homes where Milton worked until their doors closed in 1986 when he went out on his own and began Milt’s Mobile Home Service. Milton and Sandra were divorced in 1990.

Milton continued operating Milt’s Mobile Home Service until hanging up his mobile home-related career to start a 21-year career driving for Taxi 9000. His taxi driving days ended in August 2022. Milton found his taxi driving career to be the most enjoyable profession he had had up to that point. He enjoyed meeting many different people and the opportunity to drive. This enjoyment was evident by his interest in pursuing what would be his final job where he worked on a part time basis from 2022 through February 2025 as a courtesy driver for Westlie Motors. His position as a courtesy driver would ultimately be his most favorite job of all. At the time of his passing, he was recovering from a fall he had taken while at work on February 28 and was very much looking forward to returning to Westlie Motors near the end of April.

Milton is survived by his children and their families: Nancy (Andy) Babcock, Minot, and their children, Mathew Babcock, Minot, and Crystal (Ben) Dring and their child Colter, Tucson, AZ; Kevin (April) Bowen, Vass, NC, and their children, Juan Bowen, Boone, NC, Tobias (Victoria) Bowen and their child James (with Baby Bowen arriving in October), Vass, NC, Preston (Geena) Keyes and their child Weston, Sanford, NC, Dylan (Sarah) Bowen, Vass, NC, and Tyler Bowen, Vass, NC; Lynnae (Craig) Rudland, and their son, Connor, Minot; Richelle (Bill) Laney, Fayetteville, NC, and their children, Eli Laney, Norman, OK, Ivy Laney, Bourbonnais, IL, and Levi Laney, Fayetteville, NC. Siblings: Joylea Knutson, Minot, Judy Hartl, Pine Island, MN, Lorinda (Daryl) Johnson, Garrison, Betty (Scott) Bostow, Minot, Sharon Gartner, Fargo, Sharlene (Don) Krogh, Fargo and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Milton is also survived by his companion: Pat Cone, Minot, and her children, Michael Cone, Minot, and Dawn Pogodzinski, Redgranite, WI, and her children, Tanya and Nicole.

Milton was preceded in death by his parents, brother James Bowen and infant sister, Joyce and in-laws: Loren Knutson, Jay Hartl, Art Seidler, Jerry Gartner and Julie Bowen.

Funeral Service: 1 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2025, at Our Redeemer’s Church, Minot. To view a livestream of the service or share memories and condolences access his obituary at www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Visitation: One hour prior to the start of the service in the church.

In lieu of memorials Milton’s children request donors do a random act of kindness in honor of his memory. He was often known for trying to make others smile.

Published by The Minot Daily News, April 7, 2025.