Vernon Leroy Youngs

Vernon’s service will be livestreamed and viewable below starting at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 6, 2026:

Vernon Youngs (101), of Fargo, ND died on Friday, February 27, 2026, under the care of Eventide Fargo and HIA Hospice.

Vernon Leroy Youngs was born on a farm near Roseglen, ND on October 1, 1924; the son of Frank and Florence Youngs. He attended a country school, for grades 1-8. He graduated from high school in Makoti, ND in 1941. That fall, Vernon enrolled in Jamestown College. After completing his second year of college, he received his draft notice on his 19th Birthday. During World War II, Vernon served in the U.S. Navy as a radioman near Pearl Harbor. Vernon was honorably discharged on April 5, 1946. He continued his military service as a member of the U.S. Naval Reserves from 1947-1952.

Following his time in the Navy, he returned to his parent’s home to help in farming and enrolled in Jamestown College again and graduated in 1948 with a BS in Chemistry. Upon his return to college, he met Helen Buck. The couple were married in the campus chapel on July 31, 1948.

The newlyweds purchased a mobile home, moved it to the farm near Roseglen, and spent the summer farming before moving to Columbus, ND for their new teaching assignments. Helen was an elementary teacher, and Vernon taught science, math, and woodworking in high school. The routine of farming in the summer and teaching in the winter lasted seven years.

In 1955, Vernon accepted a job teaching Chemistry at the School of Forestry, Bottineau, ND. In 1959, Vernon and Helen welcomed a daughter, Deborah Lynn, into the world. In 1960, the couple moved to Fargo for Vernon’s employment at North Dakota State University and the opportunity to earn his master’s degree (1963) and PhD (1965). In 1963, a son, Victor Lee, completed their family of four. After Vernon finished his degrees in Cereal Chemistry, he joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wheat Quality Lab on the campus of NDSU. In this position he did research on hard red spring and durum wheats.

In 1970, he was transferred to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, to head the new Oat Quality Lab for the next nine years. Vernon became one of the leading proponents of oats, working with oat breeders from across the country. Later, in 1999, a new variety of oat was named after him.
In 1979, Vernon was transferred back to Fargo to head the Wheat Quality Lab at NDSU. In 1986, Vernon retired from government service and did private consulting for the next five years. His consulting brought him to numerous locations in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Vernon was active in publishing numerous scientific papers and chapters for books dealing with wheat and oats. He also did some limited teaching, gave special lectures, and was an advisor to multiple graduate students.

Vernon and Helen were active members of church in both Fargo and Madison. Vernon contributed many original, handmade pieces of artwork for both Divine Savior United Methodist Church in Madison, WI and Faith UMC in Fargo, ND.

After full retirement, Vernon continued writing. He created forty books/booklets containing original prose, poetry, photography, and artwork. The distribution of these was generally limited to relatives and friends. He continued woodworking until about 2015. Vernon also created many trophies and plaques that were awarded to players from Victor’s tennis teams. He had a passion for creating greeting cards. Debbie catalogued the cards. Between 2003 and 2015, 373 cards were designed.

Vernon was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Helen, son-in-law Patrick Murphy, brother Burton Youngs Sr., sister-in-law Joan Youngs, brother-in-law Gerald Buck and his parents Frank and Florence Youngs.

Vernon is survived by his daughter, Deborah Murphy, son Victor (Missy) Youngs, grandchildren Jessica (John) Ricks, Emily Murphy (Matt Green), Zachary Murphy, Jennifer Murphy, David Youngs, Julia (Sam) Youngs, Geoffrey (Sophia) Youngs, three great granddaughters, Madison Morris, Aubrey Puckett, and Georgia Green, nieces Melanie (Doug) Wendel, Lisa (Richard) Cole, nephews Grant (Connie) Buck, David (Liz) Buck, Burton (Beckie) Youngs, Jr., Mike (Deb) Youngs.

The Youngs Family would like to express sincere appreciation to the staff at Eventide Fargo and HIA Hospice for their excellent care of Vernon.