Merlin Poncho L. Mcdougall

Poncho passed away March 25, in Bullhead City, AZ after a short illness. His wife and family were with him and held his hands as he passed away and went to his Heavenly home.

Poncho was born in White Earth, MN to Robert and Dorothy McDougall. They moved to Fargo, ND when he was a child. Poncho graduated from Fargo Central High in 1965. He entered the Army in 1967 and served in Vietnam, coming home in 1969.

Poncho had several jobs before starting with the Fargo Park Board and Burlington Northern (BNSF) where he worked for 17 years. He worked his way up to becoming an engineer, retiring in 2009.

Poncho married the love of his life, Jan Truman in 1994. They lived in Detroit Lakes from 1996-2016, after which they moved back to the Fargo area.

This year Poncho would have celebrated over 40 years of sobriety, one of his proudest accomplishments. He spent most of his time fishing at his brother’s camp site. He also enjoyed wheeling and dealing, playing cards and spending time with his family and friends. Poncho was also known fondly as Sugar Bear by family.

Poncho is survived by wife Jan; step-daughter, Lisa Rudnick; grandson, Dalton Rudnick; one sister, Jean (Clair) Sorensen - Dilworth, MN; three brothers, Chub (Ida) McDougall - Richwood, MN, Gary (Pam) McDougall - Wilmer, MN, Doug (Bonnie Thorpe) McDougall, Fargo, ND, several nieces and one nephew.

Preceding him in death are his parents; four brothers, Ronnie - 1964, Bob - 2013, Stan - 2015 and Dennis – 2018, and one sister, Jeanette - 2015.

Poncho will be dearly missed by everyone whose life he touched; he never met a stranger.