Marvin J. Burris, 90, of Fosston, MN and formerly of Grand Forks, ND passed away Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Valley Senior Living on Columbia in Grand Forks.
Marvin Jerome Burris was born January 30, 1934, in Tolna, ND the son of George and Annie (Krumpos) Burris. The family came to Grand Forks when Marvin was a young boy and he graduated from St. James High School in 1952. In June of 1953, Marvin enlisted in the United States Army and completed basic training in Fort Riley, KS. From there, it was off to Salzburg, Austria until May 1955 when he was honorably discharged from active military service and was able to return home. Marvin was employed from 1955 to 1986 as a Rail Detector Operator with the Burlington Northern Railroad (formerly known as Great Northern Railroad). He covered territory system wide while learning all the backroads and good diners along the way.
After meeting on a blind date and dating for 5 years, Marvin proposed marriage to Arlis Diane Underberg over the phone while on the road for work. Marvin and Arlis were united in marriage on October 24, 1962, in St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Grand Forks. They were blessed with 54 years of marriage until her death in July 2017. Together they raised 4 children, Roger, Kris, Darci, and Steve. They have 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
In 2010, Marvin and Arlis moved to the family farmstead in Fosston, MN which was his slice of heaven. The farm provided countless memories for everyone, as well as providing Marvin with shop space to tinker, tractors to ride, push, pull, and lift, and lawns to mow. He was always thinking of projects, and it usually involved a tractor and jobs for everyone around. Safety may or may not have been an issue!
Marvin had a gift of visiting anybody and finding connections, learning their story and creating lasting relationships. He was a good cook, specializing in soups, chilis, hotdishes, often delivered to many friends and family. He cared deeply about loved ones and was a worrier, making sure to look ahead and share the weather report if getting ready to travel and calling to see if you made it home ok.
In the past several years, he had been slowed down by health issues but had continued maintaining his independence and doing what he loved; drinking coffee and visiting with family and friends, taking an annual summer drive through his old stomping grounds of Tolna, trips to the Casino, watching Jeopardy (but falling asleep before the final question) finding “treasures” with parts that he knew would come in handy “someday” and ending the day in a well worn pair of bib overalls “bibbys” work gloves and a cold Mountain Dew.
Marvin recently celebrated his 90th Birthday with friends and family. At the end, he commented, “90 years old, isn’t that something? Quite a life.” Indeed, it was. He will be missed.
Marvin is survived by a son, Roger (Lynn) and children, Alli, Abbi (Trey Buchholz) and Anna (Dalton Trottier); a daughter, Kris (Brian) Wanner and son, Jacob; a daughter, Darci (Scott) Bohn and children, Zachary (Kenzie) Hannah (Gonzo Macabeo) and Adam; a son, Steve (Tammie) and children Tyler, Taylor, (Alec Sampson) and Jordan; great grandsons Liam Burris and Logan Buchholz, great granddaughters Stevie Buchholz and Hadley Sampson and special friend, Janet Nissen.
Marvin was preceded in death by parents, George and Annie Burris; wife, Arlis Burris; mother and father-in-law, Ole and Ruth Underberg; brother-in-law, James Underberg; sisters-in-law, Judy Underberg and Louise Burris; brothers, Robert Burris, George Burris Jr, and sister, Anne Marie Burris, and an infant granddaughter, Katie Michele Burris.
Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 8, 2024, in St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Grand Forks, ND.
Visitation: One hour prior to the liturgy in the church on Monday.
Burial: Calvary North Cemetery, Grand Forks, ND.
Military Honors: Accorded at the time of burial by members of the American Legion Post 157, The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3817 and the North Dakota Army National Guard.