Merlin "Mert" D. Mitchell, 61 of Beach, ND, passed away at his home on Saturday, June 2, 2012 surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral Services for Mert will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 7, 2012 at the Bowman Lutheran Church. Pastor Galen Strand will officiate. Visitation for Mert will begin on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 from 9-9 at the Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Home Chapel.Merlin (Mert) Dwight Mitchell was born November 7, 1950 to James and LouElla (Howard) Mitchell in Beach, North Dakota. He joined two older brothers Russell and Dennis. Mert attended first grade at Richland Center and second and third grade at Beach Elementary at which time the family moved back to Rhame. He graduated from Bowman High School in 1969. In February 25, 1978 he married Jeanette Hollar in Rhame. He and Jeanette purchased the Mitchell home place and began farming and ranching. They completed their family by raising two children, Kari and James. Mert worked a variety of jobs off the ranch throughout his life, often involving oil field work or heavy equipment operation. In 2000 Mert and Jeanette helped run buffalo on the HT ranch for 3 years then sold their own cattle and briefly moved to Minnesota for a change of scenery. Mert's love of the land ultimately motivated him in almost everything he did and being so far away was difficult, so in 2004 they moved back to ND to Beach where he worked for Golden Valley County until his untimely demise. Mert's love of nature and hunting was shared with many of his close friends and his family. He loved wildlife of all kinds and observing animals in their element. He loved the wide open space of the ND sky and watching a storm roll in but ironically, he was also always on a quest to improve the natural ND habitat and was regularly planting native trees. He also enjoyed sports and was often listening or watching a game whether it be local athletics or professional sports. He received a lot of joy in his last two years in getting to know his granddaughter Gabi and teaching her all kinds of good and bad habits. He is survived by his wife Jeanette, Beach, ND; daughter Kari (Chris) McGee, Crystal, MN; son James (Sue Perlinger) Mitchell, Plymouth, MN; dogs Winchester and Tiki; siblings, Russell (Darlene) Mitchell, Medora, ND; Dennis (Irene) Mitchell, Bowman, ND, one granddaughter Gabriella McGee, niece Randi (Bryon) Fuchs, nephew Rory Mitchell and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents James and LouElla, and nephew Ray Mitchell, and his favorite dog Brandy.

Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Service in charge of the arrangements.