Roy G. Mercer

Roy G. “Bud” Mercer, 91 a life long resident of the Lake Region area died on Friday morning, February 29, 2008 at Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake. Funeral Services for Roy will be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Devils Lake. Rev. Marvin Winstryg will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Serving as Casket Bearers for Roy will be his grandsons, Bryan Wilhelmi, Michael Wilhelmi, Brandon Sailor, Chance Sailor, Justin Steinhaus, Jamie Steinhaus, Justin Mercer and Brett Mercer. Music will be provided by JoDee Lagein Roy G. Mercer, son of Earl and Edith (Rombaugh) Mercer was born on January 23, 1917 at Devils Lake, ND where he was reared and educated, graduating from Central High School in the class of 1935. Roy would live, work and raise his family in the Lake Region area his entire life. Bud was united in marriage to Irene Mae Hedin on November 1, 1952 at Devils Lake. They established their home on the “Kelly Ranch”, rural Warwick where they farmed for several years. They later moved to the “Jerusalem Ranch”, south of Crary and continued farming until 1965 when Bud suffered a heart attack and had to retire from farming. In the fall of 1965 the family moved to Devils Lake. While living in Devils Lake, Bud was a part of the Green Thumb program, working in maintenance at Lake Region Junior College and the School for the Deaf. Roy was employed at Mercy Hospital in the Dietary Department for a time and then worked for Great Plains Builders as a Yard Man for several years. In 1980, Bud began building a new home in rural St. Michael, without the use of “power tools.” In 1982 they moved into their new home and again Bud worked in the Senior Green Thumb Program as a gardener at Sully’s Hill. In 1995 they returned to Devils Lake and Bud again was not ready for retirement and worked at the Dakota Boys Ranch on a partime basis. Irene died on May 25, 2002 and Roy went to live with his daughter, Julie. For the past 2 ½ years, Roy has been a resident of Heartland Care Center. “Green Thumb” was the perfect description of Roy when it came to the beautiful flower gardens he grew. His gardens received many awards and recognition for their bounty and beauty. The hands that could produce such beauty from the earth could also create beautiful clocks, needle work and paintings. Many of these talents were passed on to his children. Roy’s creations were examples of love, care and concern. These things we will hold in our hearts forever. Roy was truly loved and will be deeply missed by his loving family and dear friends. Roy is survived by his children: Lorie Steffan and her husband, Jim of Atlanta, Georgia Rose Wilhelmi and her husband, Gary of Devils Lake Edith Steinhaus also Devils Lake Rory Mercer, St. Michael Mark Mercer and his wife, Jody, Devils Lake Julie Sailor and her husband, Brian, St. Michael Steve Mercer also of St. Michael Twenty-Six grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren Sister: Gladys VanOrder of Fairfield, California Several nieces, nephews and their families also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Irene; brother, Les Mercer and sisters, Frances and Dorothy.