Roy K. Scheel

Roy Kenneth Scheel, 101, of Moorhead, MN passed away on September 17, 2023. He was born on May 10, 1922 at the family farm in Ransom County, ND to Herman and Elsie (Schunk) Scheel.

Following graduation from Enderlin High School he attended North Dakota State School of Science which prepared him for his career at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. His first assignment was pulling cable through the North Dakota State Capitol Building in Bismarck.

Roy was drafted into the US Army Air Forces and served in the Aleutian Islands from 1943-1946 where he used his skills as wire chief. He was proud to travel with other veterans to Washington, DC on the 2007 ND/MN Honor Flight. Each participant wrote a personal story for the Honor Flight book. Roy’s entry brought smiles as a typo changed his role from wire chief to wine chief. Others wondered how he got that job.

Following discharge from the service, Roy returned to work in communications at NW Bell for 40 years. After retiring from Bell, he ended his career guiding the newly organized North Dakota Telephone Association for five years.

Roy met Marie Kurschinski at the Crystal Ballroom in Fargo. On May 8, 1949 they were married in Parshall, ND. They had four children and he was a hands on dad who helped with science fair projects, attended sporting events and always set up the tent on frequent family camping trips.

Roy and Marie spent many winters in Harlingen TX. They enjoyed traveling to other countries and always stopped to see the sites along the way.

The grandkids and great-grandchildren enjoyed time with Grandpa Roy, too.  He was a natural at bringing smiles and laughter.

He is survived by Marie, his wife of 74 years; children, Sally (Dick) Jenkins, Sandra Hannahs, Pete Scheel and Janet (Jeff) Wright-Mortenson; grandchildren, Krista Black, Julie Mohl, Alyssa Shirek, Margaret Hannahs, Lillian Hannahs, Emily Wright and great-grandchildren Leo Mohl, Celia Mohl, Parker Shirek, Becca Shirek, Ryder Wright.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Paul Scheel and Cora Scheel; son-in-law, Chip Wright; grandsons Eric Wright and Robert Jenkins in infancy.

Visitation will be Wednesday, September 27, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., followed by the memorial service at 1:00 p.m., at Messiah Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND.

Interment will be at Prairie Home Cemetery in Moorhead at a later date.