Merel D. Fosse, age 76, resident of Lisbon, ND, formerly of Michigan, ND, died peacefully on Friday, June 7, 2024, at Bethany Retirement Living in Fargo, ND.
Merel Dale Fosse was born September 5, 1947, in McVille, ND, the son of Ted and Orpha (Elgin) Fosse. They lived in the McVille area until 1951, when they moved to Michigan, ND.
Merel graduated from Michigan High School in 1965. While in high school, Merel played football and basketball, as well as baseball and golf in the summer. Golfing became a passion for Merel throughout his life. He instructed many friends, as well as family, improving their golf games. Merel was a Champion golfer for multiple decades, winning the club and county tournaments regularly over the years. Merel greatly enjoyed his time at the Duffers Club. After high school, Merel earned his bachelor’s degree in teaching at Mayville State University. He taught high school History, Drivers Ed, and Physical Education, and coached basketball and football in Sheyenne, ND for 7 years. He also coached summer baseball for the community. Merel married Sue Ellen Bondy on January 2, 1969, in a blizzard. After the wedding, they lived in Mayville, ND during Merel’s last semester of college. In May 1969, they moved to Sheyenne, ND where he started his teaching career. Merel and Sue Ellen had 2 daughters, Beth (Nelson) and Kelly (Moroz) while they lived in Sheyenne, ND. In 1976, the family moved back to Michigan, ND where Merel started his career with Joe Lamb’s Oil and Supply in the Parts Department. He worked at Joe Lamb’s for 23 years until they closed. Merel finished his Parts career with Case by working at both Twete Implement in Devils Lake, ND and Titan Machinery in Grand Forks, ND. Those positions spanned approximately 15 years, and Merel retired from the Ag industry in 2014. Also, during his time in Michigan, Merel was a long-time school board member, holding the president position on the board for a few of those years. He also volunteered as the scorekeeper at basketball games, boys and girls, in the Michigan gym for many seasons. His passion for golf, had him volunteering numerous hours over the years to assist in the maintaining and improvements at the Duffers Club. Merel was an avid fan of North Dakota sports, Class B specifically, and attended as many events as he was able to. He especially enjoyed watching his daughters and grandchildren participating in those sports and activities. The inaugural Merel Fosse Dollars for Scholars scholarship for a Lisbon Senior attending college in the field of education was awarded in May 2024. His desire to teach and coach will be continued on through this scholarship. Merel’s top priority was spending time with his family. He coached all of them to better their abilities, and made sure they all learned how to garden, play kick-the-can, shoot off firecrackers, and drive the golf cart.
Merel will be missed by his wife of 55 years, Sue Ellen; 2 daughters, Beth (Scott) Nelson and Kelly Moroz; brother, Lloyd (Vonnie) Fosse; 4 grandchildren, Steven (Amy Kronkow) Moroz, Joseph (Alexa) Nelson, Emily Nelson, and Michael Nelson; 1 great-grandchild, Remi Jo Nelson; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Orpha (Elgin) Fosse; brother, Gene Fosse; sister and brother-in-law, DeLores and Maynard Hjelseth.
The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Lawrence O’Toole Catholic Church, Michigan, ND, on Friday, June 14, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at the Michigan Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Church on Friday, for one hour prior to Mass. The Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota, ND