Darrel Stolt
November 21, 1949 ~ December 16, 2016
Darrel Stolt
Karlsruhe, North Dakota
Darrel passed away on December 16, 2016 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Fargo, at the age of 67, surrounded by his family.
Darrel was born on November 21, 1949 in Harvey, ND, the son of Arnold and Lydia (Yahnke) Stolt. He grew up on the family farm in Drake, ND where he received his education. Darrel proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War where he received a Bronze Star. After his discharge he returned to the states and was united in marriage to Karen Eliason in September of 1972 in St. Paul, MN. They had two children, William and Jayne. Darrel worked as a mechanic for over 20 years in Minot for UPS. Throughout the years, Darrel loved spending his days riding his Harley. He was an active member of the New Horizons Motorcycle Club. Darrel was the best mechanic and could fix any problem. He will be missed by his many friends and family.
Darrel is survived by his children, William (Sara) Stolt of Gardner, ND; and Jayne Lewandowski of Fargo; his grandchildren, William, Elizabeth, Corbin, Connor, and Claire; his mother, Lydia Stolt of Harvey, ND; his siblings, Elaine “Bunny” (Avery) Minor of Anamoose, ND; Holly (Bruce) Gaugler of Bismarck, ND; and Michael Stolt of Drake, ND; his longtime companion, Jo Anne Arndt of Velva, ND; and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Arnold.
VISITATION: 5-7 PM Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at the Thompson-Larson Funeral Home in Velva, ND – and also one hour prior to the service in the church on Thursday
PRAYER SERVICE: 7 PM Wednesday at the funeral home
FUNERAL SERVICE: 10 AM Thursday, December 22, 2016 at the Oak Valley Lutheran Church in Velva, ND
BURIAL: North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND
Arrangements entrusted to the care of Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center in Fargo and Thompson-Larson Funeral Home in Velva.
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Darrel will be missed by many of us. I had the great pleasure to work with Darrel most of his years at UPS. That man had a sence of pride and craftsmanship second to none. He could fix anything and set several national UPS maintenance records that I doubt will ever be beaten by anyone. He taught me many things and we became fast friends for life. We took several motorcycle trips and had many adventures as well. I will miss him every day. His wit and humor above all. I would be in such a good mood when I new I was scheduled to see Darrel in Minot.
I said fair well to Darrel at the VA and met his daughter Jayne and also spoke to Bill on the phone. I will always admire him and I wanted you all to know what a giant of a man he really was. I cherish every minute I had with him !!!
Jay Kleinjan. Kindred, ND
Darrel will be so missed by so many. His love of animals always showed what a wonderful heart he had to animals. My 3 great danes have sorely missed his visits since he retired from propane deliveries. My prayers and thoughts are with all of the family, JoAnne, and friends –
Sorry Darrel, I can’t go, on your final ride this day.
It saddens me, the road of life takes me another way.
But better days are ahead they say,
The sun always shines in heaven, with the wind at your back
Drinking beer and riding with the pack.
They say that in Heaven everyone rides around on white Harleys,
I know you’ll want a black one just to be different, that was your way.
You won’t be alone, you have friends and brothers awaiting you.
And a day will come that I be there. Not anytime soon beware.
A favor for me when I arrive, just make sure there’s lots of cold beer . Love you man. Never Forget. Tibbsy
My wife and I wish to extend our sincere condolences upon hearing of Darrel’s death. I was his and Elaine’s teacher for one year in the one room country school they attended. They were both exemplary students. May God’s blessings be with you all.
Our condolences to the Stolt family. I worked with Darrel many years ago at the Minot UPS building. He was a great mechanic, an important member of the UPS team, and a friend. He was often called in on short notice to repair a vehicle, insuring that the UPS wheels kept rolling. So sorry to hear of his passing. Rick & Kathy LaCroix
He was a very special guy and will dearly be missed.
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darrel was my grandfather I did not know him much but I still remember going to see him in his hospital bed watching toy story with him I’m sad he passed but he is in a better place.
But amidst the oddities and eccentricities, there was a warmth and authenticity to Grandpa that endeared him to everyone he met. His offbeat sense of humor could light up a room, his unique perspective on life challenged us to see the world differently, and his unabashed love for the strange and wonderful reminded us to embrace our own quirks without reservation.
So here’s to you, Grandpa, with your wacky antics and your one-of-a-kind spirit. You may have been a little weird, but you were our weird, and we wouldn’t have had it any other way. Your memory will forever be a delightful blend of laughter, love, and just a touch of the wonderfully weird.”