July 27, 2021

Delbert Fry

Delbert Fry

Delbert Walter Fry was born on Oct. 22, 1946, in Findlay, Ohio, the third son of Delbert Eugene Fry and Ruth Aileen DeWeese Fry. He grew up in the Bloomdale, Ohio, area and graduated from Elmwood High School in 1964. After joining the Air Force he served in Vietnam. Upon his return he married Jane Spitler and treasured their daughter, Brandee; although they later divorced.
Delbert attended Bowling Green State University where he met and married Nancy Elizabeth Harrer. He graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree specializing in Physical Education and began teaching and coaching in numerous Ohio schools. He had a lifelong passion for athletics, especially football and basketball. Delbert received his Master of Arts degree from BGSU in Guidance and Counseling. After moving to North Dakota he was proud of the Peer Counseling program which he instituted at Turtle Mountain High School where he also coached.
Delbert served as a principal in Belfield and superintendent in Selfridge and Powers Lake before returning to counseling and teaching in Mandaree. He passed there on July 12, respected by many children who called him “Grandpa.” He loved to tell stories with a life lesson and to encourage young people to excel at whatever they attempted. He loved learning and reading about history and the wild country. He was noted for taking family and friends on back country camping trips, with the thrill of seeing animals in the wild.
Delbert is survived by his wife, Nancy of Minot; daughters, Brandee Charters of Dayton, Ohio, Karin (Chris with Avery and Danielle) Malenius of Fairbanks, Alaska, Kristin (Travis with Abigail, Paden, Allison, and Annabel) of New Salem, Kindrea (with Mikayla, Samantha, and Gabriella) of Minot, Kerstan (George with Adeline and Ellis) of Kaiserslautern, Germany, Katelin of Kaiserslautern, Germany; sons, Daryl (Anne with Ava and Saoirse) of Minot, Daniel (Ashly) of Livingston, Mont., Don (Kristi with Kaycee, Caleb, and Gavin) of Mandan, Douglas (Betina with Carter and Elsie) of Minot, Dwayne (Jennifer with Jaxon, Jacob, and Jasper) of Carleton, Minn., Darron of Chicago, Ill., Duston of Minot, and Dallas (Jessica with Elizabeth) of Bismarck. He is also survived by his brother, Daryl (Cherie) Fry of Freecastle, Pa.; sisters, Elaine (Mitchell) Bennett of Bloomdale, Ohio, Edith (Charles) Fry-Scsavnicki of Toledo, Ohio; sister-in-law, Marlene Fry of Fostoria, Ohio; and cousin, Bruce Bibbee of Fostonia, Ohio; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gene and Aileen; stepmother, Alice Kessler Fry; and brothers, David and Daniel.
A celebration of life service was held on July 20, at Water Chief Hall, Mandaree. Burial will be in Weaver Cemetery near Bloomdale, Ohio, at a later date.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER