LeRoy “Roy” Carl McDonald, 89, Valley City, ND passed away at his home on July 29, 2020. All are welcome to attend (and bring your lawn chair to) the graveside service with military honors being held for him on Thursday, August 6, 2020 in Memory Gardens Cemetery at 11:00 AM. The service will be recorded and available to view along with his obituary on the Lerud Mathias Funeral home website, www.lerudschuldt.com
Roy was born June 12th, 1931 to Nettiebelle Herr and John McDonald Jr. in Huelett (Todd County), MN. He was the only son of 3 children growing up. When Roy was 15 years old, he moved to Valley City and began working for George and Gladys Noeske. After a few years, Roy moved back to Minnesota where he met the love of his life, Myrtle Peterson, in 1950. On May 18th, 1952, Roy and Myrtle were married. He joined the Army the same year and served his country in Korea. In 1954 Roy was honorably discharged after his duty had been fulfilled. In 1962, Roy and Myrtle moved their 3 children to Valley City where he began his first career as a plumber working for Meritt Sorenson. Roy decided in 1971 to take a leap of faith and start his own plumbing business in Valley City. He proudly served the town and surrounding communities for 27 years before his retirement in 1998. If you knew Roy, retirement was a word that he never quite knew what it meant. After 3 years of “retirement,” Roy decided to help cutting meat for Valley Meat for a few weeks during the 2001 gun deer season. He stayed for 16 years. This is where he met his second family and started his second career.
Besides being in the military and loving to work, Roy was a husband we could all take a lesson from. The vows of marriage didn’t end at being loving and faithful. If he wasn’t on an emergency service call, sitting in the cold to get his venison for the year, or launching his boat to supply all the fish for the family fish fry, he was at the table having breakfast, lunch, and dinner with his wife Myrtle. He was always making sure he let her win at cards because it meant so much to her. Always making sure the love of his life was his number one. Don’t kid yourself, Roy had a few other passions in life as well. Fishing, hunting, and camping was so many hours, days, and years of his life. It might have been as simple as heading to Bayshore 10 minutes away and setting up the camper, or the long drives to Canada year after year to camp and fish. If he had the time he was going, but hardly ever alone. He was always going with family and friends because thats what Roy was about- family and friends.
Roy is survived by his daughters Kathleen McDonald of Casper, WY and Diane McDonald Delparte (Tim Lockwood) of Valley City, ND; Daughter in law Marlys McDonald Fargo, ND; Grandchildren Ryan (Cassandra) Cunningham of Grand Forks, ND, Kurry Delparte (Kristin Schwab) of Bismarck, ND, Rheanon McDonald of Fargo, ND, and Korlee Adams of Fort Collins, CO; Great Grandchildren Veronica, Joshua, Emma; nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Roy was preceded in death by his parents Nettiebelle and John, 2 sisters Jaunita and Ellen, wife Myrtle of 63 years, son Steve McDonald, and extended family and friends.
The family of Roy McDonald would like to extend a special thank you to neighbors Denise Didier and Daryl Erickson; Rod, Terri, and the entire staff, past and present, at Valley Meat. Roy considered you all family and so do we. Thank You
The Lerud Mathias Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. An online guestbook is available at www.lerudschuldt.com