Theodore "Ted" Meckle

Theodore “Ted” Edwin Meckle, passed away on Dec. 18, 2023 at Missouri Slope Nursing Facility, Bismarck, ND.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, Dec. 23, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 7111 Williamson Dr, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM, Friday, Dec. 22, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck. A prayer service will begin at 7:00 PM.  

Interment will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, Dec. 28, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Theodore was born on June 2nd, 1932 to Emanuel & Lydia (Richter) Meckle in rural Boone township in Sheridan County, ND. He came into a large family of brothers and sisters that were raised on the hard work ethic and they grew up in the Goodrich, Denhoff, McClusky areas of ND. Even as a small boy, he helped with all the chores on the farm and told his family many times all the stories of working on the threshing machines when he was just a young boy.

He worked on the family farm until 1952 when he entered the US Navy and served until, he was honorably discharged in 1956. He was Boiler man 1st class on the USS Rich which toured the Mediterranean area during the Korean conflict and also on the USS Sierra. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal and the Good Conduct medal from the Navy. He loved his years in the service and often told stories of his fond memories of those days.

He was a mechanic most of his life and could fix just about anything with his hands. He started working at Goodrich Implement upon his discharged from the Navy and later went to work for many years at Fuhrman Brothers Repair in Robinson, ND. In 1975 he opened Ted’s Repair in Martin, ND and in 1990 he owned and operated M&M Diesel and Repair with his three sons Darvel, Dennis, and Keith.

When Ted turned 62, he retired from the mechanics profession and worked on his small farm raising sheep. Some of his happiest days were on his little farm at Wildrose, ND and being able to work with his animals. He later worked with his wife Diane in their crafting and catering businesses. For years they did catering events and Ted was an expert wood worker who made many impressive woodworking projects that he sold at craft shows all over the state of ND.

In all the communities he lived in he was always active in the fire departments and served on numerous church councils. He spent many years mowing the Wildrose Cemetery Association cemetery with his kids and also worked as custodian for Ray Citizen Housing Center, Staples Inc, and as groundskeeper at the Ray Golf Club. He had few hobbies as all he ever did was work, but his most beloved past time was spending time with his Grandkids. They were the lights of his life and the true legacy he wanted to leave behind.

He was married to Mildred Knudson on Feb. 12, 1954 at St John’s Lutheran Church in McClusky, ND They resided in Goodrich, Robinson, and Martin, ND. He married Diane (Monson) Grad on October 29th 1983 in New Rockford, ND and they had just celebrated their 40^th wedding anniversary this, year they resided over the years in Martin, Garrison, Wildrose, Ray, and McClusky, ND.

In 2017, Ted was diagnosed mesothelioma and had to undertake many treatments for this cancer. He entered the Missouri Slope Nursing Facility on October 13th, 2023.

He is survived by his wife, Diane of McClusky, ND; sons, Palmer (Arlene) Ray, ND, Daniel (DelRaye) Fargo, ND, Darvel (Lori) Crosby, ND, Kenneth (Kathryn) Palermo, ND, Dennis (Patti) Williston, ND, Keith (Ruth) Martin, ND and Noelyn (Jessie) Bismarck, ND; daughters, Debra Hauser (Dale) Martin, ND, Barbara Michelson (Myron) Wahpeton, ND and Kristen Olson (Mike) Ray, ND; brothers, Wilmer (Jane) Rochester, WA, Bill (Sandy) Keldron, SD; sisters, Cora (Carl) Rundberg, Minot, ND, Charlotte Lindquist, Cambridge, MN, Donna (Don) Debowey, Cheyenne, WY, Marilyn Biesterfeld, Lawton, OK, Pat (Jim) Porter, Rochester, WA; mother-in-law, Donna Monson, Marion, ND; brothers-in-law, Nathan (Bonnie) Monson, Carrington, ND, Michael (Rowena) Monson, Glenfield, ND; sister-in-law, Cindy (Todd) Vogel, Marion, ND; step children Dorian Grad , McClusky, ND and Gabriel (Stacy) Grad Corpus Cristi, TX; grandchiIdren, Jessica Pesek (Gavin), Alicia Johnson (James), & Erick (Nataliia) Meckle, Hunter & Sophie Meckle, Kaylee and Cody Meckle, Joey(Cherrie) and Jordin (Sheri) Paulson, Aaron Hauser, Landon Meckle and Bethany (Benjamin) Burnett, Ashley Michelson and Derrick (Hayley) Michelson, Ethan, Noelle, and Teddy Meckle, Lily Cotton and Macy & Laney Olson, Ethan, Owen, Bailey, Aiden, and Gabrielle Grad as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren.

To share memories of Ted, view the service livestream and read the full obituary, visit www.parkwayfuneral.com.