Myron Allen Jury Jr.

The service will also be available via live stream at https://www.facebook.com/1stUMCdl/

Myron Allen "Mick" Jury, Jr., 85, of Minnewaukan, ND passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Sunday, November 3, 2024 at CHI St. Alexius Health in Devils Lake after a brief battle with cancer. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, November 9 at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Devils Lake with Pastor Dayne Zachrison officiating. Burial will follow at a later time in Ellendale, ND. Visitation and lunch will follow the service. 

The second oldest of seven children, Myron was born to Janet (Gunderson) and Myron Jury, Sr. December 22, 1938 in Berlin, ND. He graduated from Fullerton High School in 1956. He received a bachelor's degree in industrial arts from the State Normal Industrial College in Ellendale and then continued his education at NDSU in Fargo where he obtained a master's degree in school administration in 1968. 

 Myron was united in marriage to Mary Oxenrider, daughter of Walter and Esther Oxenrider June 9, 1961 in Ellendale. His first teaching position took them to Hoople, ND where he taught industrial arts, physical education and coached all sports. He went on to teach and coach at New Town briefly before returning to Hoople as superintendent followed by New Rockford and later part-time assistant superintendent in Devils Lake. For nine years he served part time jointly at Sheyenne and Minnewaukan and then he took on one position as superintendent of Minnewaukan in 1996. 

Myron took much pride in his career accomplishments, the most notable being securing millions in funding to build a new school in Minnewaukan. The school was built on higher ground northwest of the city due to the flooding from Devils Lake. He had a vision he implemented meticulously every step of the way. After 44 years in education, he retired in 2013. He was elected Mayor of Minnewaukan in 2012. As the mayor and the superintendent, he was deeply involved with protecting the school and the city from the flood waters as the community battled the flooding on a local, state, and federal level. 

Myron was a dedicated member of many organizations. Notably, he donated countless hours to the Central ND Steam Threshers, El Zagal Shrine, Kiwanis, Kem Temple Masonic, Eagles and Elks Lodges. Helping others and giving back to his community was very important to Myron. He could always be counted on to lend a helping hand! He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church in the communities his family lived.

 In addition to his career in education, he owned his own construction business completing many home builds. Myron worked with his family in other business ventures in New Rockford including the Dairy Queen and the Coast to Coast hardware store that later became Hardware Hank. 

Although Myron did not express himself in many words, he had a generous heart and loved to use his carpentry skills to show his love. Myron received many calls from relatives and friends to ask for assistance with home building and repair projects. More often than not, when something needed to be done, he just quietly did it. Family and friends have unique homemade gifts from Myron in their homes. His family members were all recipients of numerous construction projects throughout the years. 

In his later years, as a legacy to his family (immediate and extended), Myron spent a great deal of time gathering and documenting, in detail, the family history of his and Mary's family trees - gifts that will always be treasured! He was passionate about family gatherings with the Jury Thanksgiving being a special time every year. 

Myron leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Mary, son Jon (Lori) Jury, Valley City, and daughters Suzie (Joe) Wobbema, New Rockford, and Sara (Michael) Deck, Woodbury, MN. Left with many fond memories are his grandchildren Brock Theis (Sarah Kolstad) and Tanner Theis (McKayla Pfeiffer), all New Rockford, Megan (Derrick Lewis) Fargo, Lucas Jury (Sarah Wendt) Hope, and Evan, Preston and Britton Deck, Woodbury, MN as well as step-grandchildren Lance (Chelsea) Straabe, Hope, Kayla (Dan) Cash, Fargo, and great-grandchildren Parker Theis, Clara and Lydia Lewis and step-great-grandchildren Peyton and Sawyer Straabe.

Myron is survived by his siblings Jim Jury Omaha, NE, Kathleen Burkhardt, Brownsville, TX, and George (Jan) Jury, Moorhead, MN and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He is also survived by foster children John (Tammy) Hanson, Ft. Dodge, IA and Debra Seabold, Keokuk, IA. 

He is preceded in death by his parents Myron Jury, Sr. and Janet Jury, his brothers and sister-in-law Robert and Dorothy Jury, Patrick Jury, sister and brother-in-law Sherry and Duane Filbert, brother-in-law and sisters-in-law Raymond (Buzz) Burkhardt, (Jim's) Dorothy Jury, and Victoria Jury; his in-laws Walter and Esther Oxenrider and Mary's sisters and husbands Sharron and Dr. Delbert Nelson and Jane and Don Moore.