Jerome M. Bixby

Jerome Maynard Bixby, 78, of Milnor, North Dakota, passed away October 31, 2024, at Essentia Health in Fargo, North Dakota.
Jerome "Jerry" Maynard Bixby, the son of Maynard and Emma (Neiber) Bixby, was born April 15, 1946, at Breckenridge, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Arnold's Catholic Church in Milnor. He attended elementary school for four years at a country school near their rural home seven miles north of DeLamere; attended fifth through eighth grade in DeLamere; and high school in Milnor, graduating in 1964. In his senior year, he was awarded his high school football MVP. He attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks for two years until enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. He served from October 11, 1966, to February 28, 1969, including a tour in Vietnam. Sent to Vietnam in April 1967, he was stationed at Khe Sahn during the Tet Offensive until February 1968. Jerry was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Combat Action Ribbon. After retiring from the military, he attended North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton before returning to Milnor.
Jerry was united in marriage to Janice Faye Busching on October 27, 1973, at Milnor Lutheran Church. They purchased the Harold Friskop farmstead on the Sargent-Richland County line and Highway 13, living there for four years until purchasing the Norman Ordahl home in Milnor in 1978. With both of them wanting a big family, they had six children, Jennie Marie, Jessie Maye, Jeffrey Mark, Jeremy Mark, Jeanie Maude and Jeddrey Maynard.
Jerry was employed as a mechanical drafter, drafter/design checker, drafting supervisor and experimental shop manager in the Product Engineering Department of Melroe Company in Gwinner for twenty-eight years, retiring in 2001.
Jerry is one of the three founders of the Milnor Bison Booster Club, organized in March 1980, serving as treasurer, secretary/treasurer and president over the years. He joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1969 and became a life member in 1980. He was elected Commander of the Milnor Gibbon-Miller VFW Post #9069 from 1979-1984, earning ND All-State Post Commander honors all five years. He also served as Post Adjutant and Post Adjutant/Quartermaster. Jerry was elected State Ninth District Commander from 1986-1987, and from 1987-1991 served one year each in the offices of State Surgeon, State Judge Advocate, State Jr. Vice Commander and State Sr. Vice Commander. Jerry was elected North Dakota State VFW Commander for 1991-1992, being the first Vietnam veteran in that office. During that year, he observed the WWII 50th Anniversary ceremonies at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in December 1991.
Jerry helped organize and was one of the charter members of Lakeview Golf Course, created in 1976. He was a member of the Cogswell Gun Club for many years and received a number of trap-shooting awards. He joined the American Legion in 1994. He helped organize and was on the Milnor Area Community Center (MACC) board. He helped organize, planned and helped fundraise for the Milnor Athletic Track. He was a Park Board member. He was a board member of the Milnor Improvement Association and served as bar manager from 2001-2003. In 2001, Jerry was recognized as the #1 Fan of the Wild Rice Conference and received the Gene Berg Memorial Sports Fan Extraordinaire Award. Jerry was awarded the Milnor Satellite Club Galaxy Award in 2004 for his years of contributions to the City of Milnor.
Jerry had many loves and hobbies. He enjoyed attending and watching any and all sporting events, especially Milnor Bison and Sargent County Bulldog basketball games, always sitting in his spot at the half-court line. He was a huge Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins fan, even though the Vikings broke his heart year after year. He was a proud former UND Sioux and never accepted the mascot change. He loved doing family genealogy. His chart had tens of thousands of names, and he was never afraid to call anybody to ask about their family history. He loved reminiscing and telling stories with his family and friends. His booming voice and laugh could be heard across the room. Jerry loved listening to, singing along and sharing his love of music, usually at top volume. He loved cars, especially muscle cars, collecting many over the years. Jerry loved spinning the tires and burning rubber. He enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, watching TV and constantly asking where his remote was. Most of all, Jerry loved spending time with Jan, his kids and grandkids and all of his family.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Janice, and his six children, Jennie (Lee) Hanna, Milnor, Jessie (Christopher) Anderson, Jamestown, Jeffrey (Angie) Bixby, Milnor, Jeremy Bixby, Milnor, Jeanie (Jeremy) Phelps, Karlsruhe, ND, and Jeddrey (Morgan VanWell) Bixby, Lisbon; his 15 grandchildren, Sofia & Jacob Hanna; Kendal, Pierce and Danica Anderson; Drew (Jordan Knudsvig), Zachary, Evelyn, Eli and Lincoln Bixby; Emma & Ella Bixby; Clara Phelps; and Maynard & Maverick Bixby; siblings Barbara Morrison, Milnor, and Larry Bixby, Oakes, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; his father- and mother-in-law, Arthur & Bernice Busching; sister and brother-in-law, Veronica "Fronie" and Norman "Tony" Brown; sister and brother-in-law, Loretta and Arnold Harak; brother-in-law, Rod Morrison; sister-in-law, Deb Bixby; and two nephews, Jim & Larry Harak.
In honor of Jerry's love of his hometown and home team, please wear any blue & gold Milnor Bison or navy & silver Sargent County Bulldog gear you have to his memorial service.
Go Bison! Hoo-Hoo!
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 10, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the MACC in Milnor followed by burial with military honors at Calvary Cemetery near Milnor. Jerry's service will be livestreamed below.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the MACC, the Gibbon-Miller Memorial VFW Post #9069 or any VFW post of your choice.