Marlin Niess

Marlin Harold Niess, 78, Valley City, ND, formerly Argusville, ND, died of a stroke Thursday, September 14, 2017 at CHI Mercy Health in Valley City, ND. Marlin was born to Jacob and Clara Niess January 1, 1939, at home in rural Tappen, ND. He grew up working for area farmers and loved fixing cars and machinery. His unconventional brilliance for all things mechanical led him to Hanson Mechanical Trade School in Fargo. He worked in various shops in Jamestown and Fargo, retiring from Interstate Power Products in 2008. Upon retirement, Marlin dove into his other interests, Chevys, gardening, old westerns, playing the guitar and singing, and studying the Bible. He spent many hours researching gardening techniques and tending his garden. Self-taught on the guitar, he and Wanda formed Dakota Gospel and traveled to area nursing homes and churches performing old-fashioned gospel concerts and doing hymn sing-a-longs. Marlin had a deep love for the Lord Jesus, a servant heart, and the patience of Job. He was a founding member of Cornerstone Ministries in downtown Fargo. For many years he and Wanda led a church service at New Horizons Manor in Fargo. It was important to him that people heard the Gospel Message and that those who couldn’t make it to a church building had a means to worship. Marlin was proud to be a soldier in the Salvation Army. Marlin is survived by his wife of 26 years Wanda Kay; daughters Lori (Brent) Tangen, Sparta, WI; Michelle (Bryon) Staehr, Manchaca, TX; sons Jeff Niess, Albuquerque, NM; Monte Niess, Hillsboro, ND; step-daughters Rebecca (John) Drummond, Golden, CO; Elizabeth (Larry) Herzog, Columbus, WI; Sarah (Tom) Meester, Valley City, ND; 14 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; brothers Vernon (Deanne) Niess, Jamestown, ND; Calvin (Linda) Niess, Bismarck, ND; sisters Harriet (Calvin) Bender, Valley City, ND; Loretta Hieb, Jamestown, ND; Arlyss (Kurt) Altenbach, Racine, WI; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by daughters Holly and Jody, son Michael, brother Clayton Niess, granddaughter Jenny Pecka, and great-granddaughter Ivy Herzog. His eyes twinkled when his dry wit caught people off guard. The best advice that Marlin loved to give was, “There’s no problem too big that you can’t run away from it!” Evidently, the broken kitchen faucet was too big a problem for him. Visitation 5-7pm, Prayer Service 7pm Thursday, September 21, 2017, Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center, Fargo, ND. Funeral Service 10am Friday, September 22, 2017, Salvation Army Chapel, Fargo, ND. Burial 3pm Friday, September 22, 2017, Ottawa Cemetery, rural Aneta, ND. The family has deep gratitude for Barnes County Ambulance and Mercy Health for their outstanding, compassionate care.