Marvin "Gene" Fletcher

Marvin E. “Gene” Fletcher, 66 of rural Webster, ND died Easter Sunday morning, April 12, 2009 at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake. Funeral Services for Gene will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. Rev. Ken Bowman will officiate and burial will be in the Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Cemetery, rural Starkweather in the spring. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and Lake Region Honor Guard, Camp Grafton. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service and Time of Sharing at 8:00 p.m.led by Rev. Robert Buechler, Visitation on Saturday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Gene will be Joe Gross, Ed Dosch, Jim Mikkelson, Lyle Matthews, Ron “Pete” Peterson, Jeff Halvorson, Ryan Hanson and Ken Hager. Honorary Bearers will be all the school staff and students, all of Gene’s friends from the VFW and all the Special Olympic athletes and staff. Marvin Eugene (Gene) Fletcher, son of Leaher Pauline (Jackson) and Marvin B. Fletcher was born on March 2, 1943 in Tampa, FL. He attended elementary and high school in Florida. Gene joined the United States Marine Corps on April 19, 1960 and was honorably discharged on April 17, 1970 after serving 2 tours in Vietnam and also served 2 years Marine Reserves from 1975 - 1977. Gene was proud of his Service to his country as an infantryman and darn good cook. After leaving the military, Gene went to Ryder truck driver school in GA. and drove semi trucks for 35 years total. While in Florida, he also worked for a swimming pool company, set up and repaired mobile homes for Fleetwood and also worked for several construction companies. On July 1, 1989 Gene married Ruth Ann Jorgenson-Miller at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Davie, FL. They made their home in Florida until moving to ND in April 1992. After moving to ND, Gene worked for Strata Co. and went back into trucking with his own truck from 1994-2004. Gene and Ruth were foster parents from 1992- 1995. Gene also worked at the Devils Lake public schools as a Life Centered Career Education Para/Job Coach from 2004 - 2008. Gene was active in the Odd Fellows Lodge and was currently the Sr.Vice Commander of the VFW Post 756 Devils Lake, ND. He really enjoyed the Special Needs children and was the Area Director for the Special Olympics in the Devils Lake area from 2006 until the time of his death. Gene loved woodworking, fishing, horses, playing Santa and working with and for Veterans. Gene was the mastermind behind the change of format for the Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs for Devils Lake. Gene is survived by his wife Ruth Children: Sons - John Irons (Donna) of Hollywood, MD, Scott Fletcher of FL, daughter – Nancy Fletcher of Millington, TN Stepdaughter- Aleata Dauwalter (Mark) of Carver, MN Stepsons- Eric Miller of Belle Plains, MN, Earl Miller of Bemidji, MN Special friend – Angie Mensing (Jon) of Bryan, Texas Grandchildren: Nicholas, Christopher, Allen, Samantha, Jeffery, Trisha, Dakota. Step grandchildren: Lindsey, Tiana, Gavin, Noah, Michael, Nicole, Andy and Jesika Brother: Sam Sister: Patty Mother-In-Law: Opal Jorgenson Many nieces and nephews and their families. He is preceded in death by his parents, grand parents and stepson John Miller and brother Larry and father-in-law, Harold Jorgenson. God saw Gene was getting tired and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around him and whispered, come with Me. With tearful eyes we watched him suffer and saw him fade away. Although we loved him dearly, We could not make him stay. A golden heart stopped beating. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best.