Gerald Diedrich Deede

Gerald Diedrich Deede, 88, passed away Monday, February 17, 2014, at the Fargo VA Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.

Gerald was born on December 15, 1925 in Wahpeton, ND to Herman and Suzanne (Diedrich) Deede. He graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1943.

He joined the Air Force cadet program in 1943 at the age of seventeen and was called in when he turned eighteen. The cadet program was closed down so he enrolled to become a career gunner and was part of a crew on a B-17 bomber. He was assigned to the 483rd Bomb Group, 15th Air Force where he earned the rank of Staff Sergeant. His plane was shot down in October 1944 and was taken prisoner for eight months, three of those months were spent marching 600 miles across northern Germany.

On January 31, 1948 he married Marvyl Carlson in Fargo. He worked for Russ Buick until 1958 when he started his own business, Associated Services, an independent securities agency.

He was a former member of the VFW, a long-time member of the Fargo Country Club and a member of Nativity Catholic Church. He enjoyed spending time with his family, traveling the United States especially to Squadron Reunions. He sold his business in 1980. Six months each year were spent in Sun Lakes, AZ.

Gerald is survived by his children: Patricia (Joel) Simons of Fargo, Nancy (Mick) Schroeder of McHenry, IL and Michael (Barb) of Plymouth, MN; grandchildren: Rebecca (Mark) Seeba, Kristy (Carl) Isonhart, Amy (Casey) Anderson, Jana (Keith) Parejko, Michelle (Gabe) Lagalo, Kara Simons, Jessica (Ryan) Rogers, Laura (fiancé Peter Soderling) Deede and Sarah Deede; great grand-children: Kayleigh and Zachary Isonhart, Aden, Ava and Elsa Anderson, Madelynn and Genevieve Lagalo and Gavin Parejko.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 53 years, Marvyl in 2001, his youngest daughter, Karen Deede Sieber in 1979, and his sister, Marion Powers in 2012.

The family would like to thank the CLC Staff at the VA for their loving care over the past year.

Visitation will be from 5:30-7:00pm with a prayer service at 7:00pm on Tuesday, February 18, at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo. A funeral mass will be held at 2:00pm on Wednesday, February 19 at Nativity Catholic Church, Fargo.

In lieu of flowers and donations the family requests that all memorials go to either the Fargo Air Museum or Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Please feel free to sign the online guestbook at www.hansonrunsvold.com