Dana McFarlane

Dana “Mack” Ward McFarlane of Fargo, ND passed away on Thursday, September 1st, 2022 at the age of 67. He was born in Rugby, ND on November 5th, 1954 to Richard Ward McFarlane and Geneve “Bobbie” Angeline (Nelson) McFarlane as the 4th of 8 children. Shortly after his birth, the McFarlane family relocated to California where he was raised and graduated in 1973 from Phineas Banning High School in Wilmington, CA. Dana’s first job at the age of 14 was with his lifelong friend Rick’s family drywalling business. Dana pursued a variety of occupations, including employment at Abbott and Hast Mortuary, The Los Angeles Times, and Kits Cameras with his friend and brother-in-law, Gary. He also trained under his father as a horologist (clocksmith) at Redondo Watch and Clock Repair.

In 1982, Dana moved to Fargo in his Chevy truck with his Amazon parrot, Fred E. Goochie, sitting on his shoulder.
While in Fargo, he worked with his father at Collector’s Clocks, owned a small construction company, and spent 25 years with Rusco Window Co. where he remained dedicated to his work until health issues prevented him from continuing. A satisfied customer once told him he was, “the next best thing to chocolate milk”! Dana was an incredible craftsman. His woodworking skills, intelligence, extreme precision, and integrity made him very successful in his work.

Dana loved the water. As a boy he enjoyed riding his bicycle along the California coast and later, a motorcycle. He took an ocean cruise and even realized his dream of traveling to Hawaii. He loved surfing Santa Monica, Redondo, Huntington, and Newport Beaches. He enjoyed deep sea fishing on many occasions. After his move to North Dakota, he frequented many Minnesota lakes in his vintage speed boat. He thoroughly enjoyed taking all the kids tubing on his “taco tube”! He made trips to South Dakota in his Airstream to camp and fish with his cousin, Gary. Dana ventured back to the ocean as often as possible, and frequented both the California and Texas coastlines.

Dana loved classic cars, photography, motorcycles, and classic rock (specifically, Frank Zappa). His barbecue skills were epic. He would shop at what he called the “used meat counter” (meat that has reached its cook/freeze by date) and turn it into a masterpiece worthy of a food magazine cover. Dana loved animals, owning several dogs over his lifetime, and shared his home with his parrot, Fred, for the last 45 years.
      
Dana wholeheartedly loved his entire family. One of his greatest accomplishments was to become a father, then grandfather. His face lit up when he talked about his little girls and he was very proud to be called Papa. Dana is survived by his longtime, loving companion, Lynelle McFarlane, their daughter, Danielle McFarlane (Sam Goodhouse), and his granddaughters, Wyllow and Wynter. He is survived by his seven siblings:

Michael Arter (Baldwin City, KS)
Koby McFarlane (Moorhead, MN)
Lesli (Gary) Bergstrom (Orting, WA)
Rory (Robert Becker) McFarlane (Desert Hot Springs CA)
Tracy McFarlane (Fargo, ND)
Taji (Dan Bahe) McFarlane-Bahe (Moorhead, MN)
Jadi (Sean Miller) McFarlane Miller (Big Lake, MN)
And many nieces and nephews.

Dana is preceded in death by his parents, and grandparents.

Dana will be forever be larger than life with his extraordinary sense of humor, dry wit, gregarious personality, big smile, deep voice, and of course, handsome good looks. We will never forget him and we will love him forever.
Rest In Peace, Gunder the Gopher-Mack-Swede.

A private family celebration of life is planned.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Valley Senior Services of Fargo.