Neil Mack

Dec. 16, 1945-Feb. 17, 2023

Balta

Neil Mack, age 77, of Balta passed away on February 17, 2023 at the Benedictine Living Community in Garrison, North Dakota after a three year stay. Neil was born December 16, 1945 in Rugby, North Dakota to John and Magdelene (Axtmann) Mack.

Neil grew up with nine siblings on the family farm near Balta and graduated from high school in 1964. Neil enlisted in the Army at 19 years of age and was deployed to Vietnam. While there he was impaled with a Punji Stick and was exposed to Agent Orange which earned him a Purple Heart Medal. He was honorably discharged after two years and returned to Balta. He married Corrine Wiest on June 16, 1967 in Selz. They were blessed with three sons: Tyrone, Troy and Trevor. Tyrone passed away on August 25, 2010. Over the 55 years of marriage they lived in North Dakota, Nevada, Arizona, Minnesota, Wyoming and Alaska. Neil worked as a car and furniture salesman. They also owned a gift store in Medora for many years eventually selling it to their son, Troy. They loved their traveling adventures and retired to the Mack Family farm in Balta where he kept himself busy with his myriad of projects. Corrine passed away on November 19, 2021.

Neil and Corrine were very patriotic. They volunteered their time with Gold Star families and were involved with the various Balta celebrations and veteran causes. Their Catholic faith and involvement with the church was very important to them, as well. After their son’s death and in Tyrone’s memory they donated funds for the stained-glass windows to the Church of Corpus Christi in Bismarck where their son’s funeral was held.

Neil is survived by his sons, Troy (Rebecca) of Balta and Trevor (Maxine) of Tucson, AZ; six grandchildren; brothers, Blaine (Sandy) of Harvey, Terry (Dawn) of Coeur d’Alene, ID, Giles (Sharon) of Branson, MO, August (Joni) of Coeur d’Alene, ID, Frank of Ft. Myers, FL and John (Alissa) of Dickinson; sisters, Linda Whisman of Harvey, Joslyn of Post Falls, ID and Joyce of Rice Lake, WI; special friends, Ryan and Kim Olson of SD; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends. Neil was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Corrine; son, Tyrone; brother-in-law, Alan Whisman; sister-in-law, Deana Mack.

Memorial Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday April 20th at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Balta. Burial will be Friday April 21st at 2:00 p.m. at the ND Veterans Cemetery in Mandan.

Visitation will be on Wednesday April 19th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a rosary and vigil prayer service beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Rugby.

Arrangements with the Anderson Funeral Home of Rugby. Online registry: www.funeralsbyanderson.com.

Published by The Pierce County Tribune, April 15, 2023.