Maro Lindsley
Maro Lindsley, 59, of Williston, N.D., died Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at Bethel Lutheran Home in Williston. His funeral service was held at 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, at the Fulkerson Funeral Home in Williston. Rev. Steve Anderson officiated and interment was in the Alexander Cemetery, Alexander, N.D. Friends may sign the online register book and give their condolences at www.fulkersons.com
Maro Samuel was born May 29, 1953, in Sidney, Mont., the son of Earl M. and Helen (Aasen) Lindsley. Maro was special, born with Down Syndrome.
Maro attended school at Cartwright briefly, then was at the State School in Grafton from 1961-1971. He lived in Williston with his parents from December 1971 until 1999 when his mother entered Bethel Lutheran Home. He was an integral part of UMARC from 1971 until his death. He lived with his guardian angel and friend, Vivian Kalmik, at UMARC until November 2011.
Maro enjoyed family, friends, music, sports, travel, riding horses, petting all animals, the theatre, comic books and super heroes, sketching and art, the first snow and Mountain Dew. His travels took him from the mountains of Yellowstone to the monuments of Washington, D.C., and from the museums of Canada to the Grand Ole Opry of Nashville where he made a CD. He won many medals and trophies in the Special Olympics at the state, national and international levels and at the Prairie Rose Games for cross country skiing, basketball, track and field, weight lifting, swimming, golf, and bowling. He always did his best to win.
Maro was baptized at Bethel Lutheran in Cartwright and later the same pastor, A.E. Setness, confirmed him at Grafton. He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and attended New Hope Wesleyan Church in the latter years. Maro professed “I have Jesus in my heart”. His faith was unshakeable and his friendship unconditional. Summers always included Camp ReCreation and Upper Missouri Bible Camp.
A lifelong learner, Maro spent hours in the library and at his desk. He’d “write a book” which was copying the Bible, sports magazines, comics and music.
Maro was proud to work. “I got a job and worked at the Williston High School and No Sail Splash Guard in Fincastle, Ind.” He bought a guitar with his first check from his Indiana job.
Maro, as a part of UMARC, volunteered for many organizations in the community, especially Williston Parks & Recreation Department and the Visitor and Convention Bureau. He was a member of the James Memorial, Relay For Life, Community Concert, United Way, Entertainment Inc, Community Builders and the Chokecherry Festival.
Maro is survived by his sisters, Frances (Kelly) Olson of Watford City, N.D., and Ina (Jim) Patterson, Veedersburg (Loogootee), Ind,; aunt and uncles, Leonard and Evelyn Lindsley and Morris Aasen; nieces and nephews, David (Amanda) Olson and daughter Kira; Barbara (Darin) Curren; JoLynn (Don) Wood and son Wyatt; Janice (Joe) Henning and sons Dustin, David, and Daniel (Stephanie) and their children, Ethan and Lilly; and his UMARC family, Tim Melland, Bob Erickson, Vivian Kalmik; special friends, Jason and Samantha Canerdy and girls, Kat and Emy; Brenden and Allayna Stevens and Verna and Richard Nicks.
Preceding him in death was his father in November 1986 and his mother in August 2005.