Marvin Jones

Marvin Raine Jones, age 68, of West Fargo, ND, died Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Sanford Hospital, Fargo, ND.

Marvin Raine Jones was born on January 15, 1957, in Sacramento, CA and was the son of Mollie Lucille Ross and Wesley Leon Jones of Sacramento, CA, where he attended Sacramento High School. After high school, he enlisted in the Army and served at Fort Ore, CA. He was honorably discharged in 1974. He met and married his first wife, Fedila Jones and in 1979 they moved to North Dakota. They divorced February 1, 2006. He then met his current wife Bernell (McCarthy) Jones. They were married on February 21, 2019.

Marvin was a jack-of-all trades and a master of none. He started building Volkswagen beetles race cars with his brother Don in the garage in Sacramento, CA. He was one of the original members that started the Bug-a-Rama at Sacramento Raceway. After moving to North Dakota, he built a Fiatte Toplena with his oldest son, Justin, and drove and won many races and won many awards at car shows. After that he built a Chevy truck for his son Dustin Jones to drive and won many races also. Then he and his son Dustin wanted to go faster, so they got a dragster. Dustin drove it and won many races.

When the drag racing was all done for Marvin, he and his wife went on to do other things together, such as traveling to Sacramento, CA to attend the Bug-a-Rama to watch drag racing and to collect parts for Marvin’s next big adventure. He refurbished a 1968 Karmann Ghia, which they found in a barn in Iowa. Marvin took the body off to find some uninhabited nests and not very unwelcoming guests. It took him five years for this build but it was worth every swear word you could imagine. He loved to take that car to car shows and visit with the people who asked what kind of car “is this”. So, he would go on and explain the whole history of the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. Not caring at all if he won an award…it was all about the sheer joy of going. Marvin’s next big adventure was building a food concession trailer for him and his wife. Marvin’s life was taken too early and too soon and left his last biggest and most challenging adventure undone, so his last project will be finished by the loved ones he left behind.

Marvin has touched so many lives from working at Peterbilt, Outlet Recreation, and Campbell Properties and his last but definitely not the least, wrking for Lewis and Clark Development as a maintenance man at Prairie Ridge Apartments. This position was more than a job to him as he loved what he did there and all the management and tenants who lived there. He would try to brighten everyone’s day. Whether it was a story from his life or an early morning cup of coffee with the tenants, he was always there.

He will be so greatly missed by everyone he has ever met. He will be missed but not forgotten.

Marvin was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He would always drop anything he was doing to help his family and friends. His kindness, helping and teaching nature will never be forgotten.

Marvin is survived by his wife, Bernell; children, Justin (Kristina) Jones of Fargo, ND, Dustin Jones (Cassie Merrill) Rogers, MN, Austin Jones, West Fargo, ND, and Roberta (Birdie) Jones, Sacramento CA; stepchildren, Jamie Gange (Katie) Walcott, ND, Senneta (George) Arel of Fargo, ND, Sheree (Pat) Glaraton Fairmont, ND, and Meagen Neil (Nick Heidorn) Arthur, ND; as well as many nieces, nephews, and many close friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Mollie Ross and Wesley Jones; and brothers, Richard, Don, and Tommy Jones.

Marvin’s family is holding a Celebration of Life at 1:00 – 3:00 pm Saturday, February 15, 2025 at Prairie Ridge Senior Apartments: 3361 Westrac Dr. Fargo, ND 58103.