Wesley Wixon, 88, Hope, ND, passed away at Mercy Hospital in Valley City, ND on July 13, 2023.  A memorial service will be held at the Lerud Mathias Funeral Home Chapel in Valley City on Wednesday, July 19 at 11:00 AM.  Visitation will be at the chapel on Tuesday from 5:00-7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00.  The services will be live streamed, then archived, on a link provided along with his obituary on his tribute page at www.lerudmathias.com.  An online guestbook is available there as well.

Wesley Ward Wixon was born August 16, 1934, in Russell, MN to Ward and Cora (Rusmussen) Wixon.  He grew up in Russell and as a young man, moved to South Dakota where he worked on the missel silos near Ellsworth AFB.  He met and married Beatrice Benson and the couple moved to Ft. Wayne, IN where Wes worked as a delivery driver with Food Marketing Co.  After working his way up in that business, he bought and ran the End of the Trail Resort in Ponsford, MN.  He did everything from grounds keeping and maintenance to fishing guide.  Eventually, he sold the resort and moved to Fargo, ND.  He worked for Automated Maintenance Service.

In 1976, he married Marlene Eckart in Fargo.  They started M & W Janitor Service and ran it together for 10 years before moving to Lake Ashtabula, Barnes County, ND.  While living there, they started Wixon’s Flooring.  He retired at the age of 80.  The home on the lake was built by Wes and Marlene and they purchased an old farmhouse that they completely renovated.  They raised pigs and chickens.

Wes loved to duck hunt, was a fan of the MN Vikings and Twins, collected Allis Chalmers tractors, and had a sweet tooth.  His hands were always working, he felt worth in being productive and was constantly busy with a project.

He was a member of Pillsbury Presbyterian Church where he played the organ.

Left to mourn his passing is his wife, Marlene; his children, Pam (Steve) Fogelson, Debbie Fedde, Craig Wixon, Janelle Wixon, Kenny Wixon, Marla (Tom) Janes, and Albert Wixon; his step-children, Mary Kraft, Bonne (Mark) Tarr, and Randy (Kim) Kraft; numerous grandchildren; many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren; his brothers, Dennis and Curtis (Bev) Wixon; his sister, Diane; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Steve and daughter, Kora Wixon.