Marvin W. Dockter

Marvin W. Dockter passed away March 15, 2021, surrounded by his family at Renown Hospital-South Meadows in Reno, NV. He was 92.

Marvin was born to Jacob G. and Bertha (Mayer) Dockter on their farm north of Streeter, ND, the eldest of 5 children.  He attended country school through 8 ^th grade. He attended Streeter High School once field work was done in the fall.  He graduated with a class of 5 students, as Valedictorian.

Marvin attended Jamestown College two years and received an emergency teaching certificate and taught in 2 nearby township schools.  He married LuVerne Kapp on August 13, 1950.  Marvin entered the Army and was stationed at Ft. Campbell, TN.  He joined the Drum and Bugle Corp and trained as a paratrooper. After two years Marvin and LuVerne returned to ND and he worked at the Streeter Bank.

In 1954 Marvin bought his father’s farm and started his farming career, raising animals and crops.

In 1964 Marvin was appointed to the position of Rural Letter Carrier at Medina.  Shortly after he sold the farm, built a house and moved to Medina

The family was active in the United Church of Christ.  Marvin joined the American Legion Post, the Lions Club, the Medina Fire Dept. and drove Ambulance, and North Dakota Rural Letter Carriers Assoc. He attended State and National Rural Letter Carrier Conventions around the country. He was Assistant 4-H Leader for the Medina Hustlers and coached Little League Baseball.  He and his partners brought cable TV to Medina.  Marvin also liked to bowl and was on three teams for many years. He held office as Mayor of Medina. He did quite a bit of woodworking and crafting which he sold.

As a NARF member, he gave testimony before a congressional panel on retiree benefits.

Marvin and LuVerne traveled often, visiting their families and on trips around the country.  They traveled to Germany twice, once in 1984 to visit Bonnie and Lynn, and, in 2014 with their grandson, Jeremy.  They became “snowbirds” RVing to Arizona every winter, spending Christmases with their daughters’ families in Elko and Winnemucca and Reno.

In 2016, they moved to Reno and lived at Summit Estates Assisted Living.  They enjoyed the activities, music, parties, and playing Pinochle, as well as being able to visit family more often.

Marvin continued to live at Summit Estate after LuVerne’s death in 2018.  Covid lockdowns at Summit Estates in 2020, with no indoor visits and only occasional 30-minute visits outdoors, caused a difficult time for Marvin and his health began to decline leading to his passing.

Marvin is preceded in death by his wife, LuVerne, an infant brother, his parents, and brother Eldo.  He is survived by daughter Cynthia (Terry Rhiley) and Bonita (Lynn Olson), grandchildren Leesa Sandhoff, Elko, Matthew Rhiley (Donette), Reno, Jessica Williams, Colorado Springs, and Jeremy Olson, Mannheim, Germany.  Also, four great-grandchildren:  Dessirae (Christopher Maroney), Kaitlin Phipps, Andrew Phipps, and Zachary Sandhoff, and one great-great-grandchild Cedric Maroney; one sister Alma (Dockter) Dewald; two brothers Sel (Margaret) Dockter and Vern (Gloria) Dockter.

A Celebration of Life is being held at the Medina Zion United Church of Christ on Aug. 13, 2021, followed by Military Honors at the Medina Cemetery.  Lunch will be served in the church hall.

Memorial Donations may be made to The Medina Alumni Scholarship Fund, Or Alzheimer’s Foundation N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or online at act.alz.org.

Eddy Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.