Neil I. MacFarlane Jr.

Neil, age 98, died peacefully on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at the Luther Memorial Home in Mayville, ND.

Neil was born on November 24, 1924, in Hillsboro, ND, the son of Neil Sr. and Nellie (Fugate) MacFarlane. The family moved to the original homestead in Grandin in 1925. Neil graduated from Grandin High School and served in the United States Army, stationed in the Philippines and Japan during WWII. Upon his return, he finished his college degree in Agriculture at NDSU. Neil and his brother, Roland, started a farm/dairy which ran until 1981. He then worked at Agway in Grandin as a warehouseman.

In April of 1981, Neil was united in marriage to Joyce McCartney of Casselton, ND, where they lived until her death in the early 2000’s. He worked for many years for Lockhart Farms of Grandin. During that time he moved to the Arthur Assisted Living, the Hillsboro Sanford Care Center, and in 2020, he came to Luther Memorial Home in Mayville.

Wherever he worked or lived, he was always able to make friends and belong to community groups such as the Presbyterian Church and the VFW Color Guard. He and Joyce were energetic dancers and were quite social. During his long life, he was the greatest example of kindness and courtesy, hard-work and decency. He inspired those around him to respond as he treated them - the definition of a good man.

Neil was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Joyce; his brother, Roland; his sisters - Winifred and Barbara MacFarlane Adsero; and his special friend, JoAnne Erdmann.

Neil is survived by his two step-sons, Michael (Mary) McCartney of Wahpeton, ND; and Bruce McCartney of West Fargo, ND; and their sister, Sandy McCartney; several step-grandchildren; his cousin, Douglas MacFarlane and family from Missouri; and his life-long friend and guardian, R. Donald Lockhart and family.

FUNERAL SERVICE: 2 PM Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at the Grandin Presbyterian Church in Grandin, ND - with visitation one hour prior

BURIAL: Grandin Cemetery, near Grandin, ND (at a later date)

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Wildeman-Boulger Funeral Home in Hillsboro, ND. To sign the online guest book, please visit our website at www.boulgerfuneralhome.com