Floyd McNea, age 90 of Bottineau, died Saturday at a Bottineau nursing home.  Funeral will be held on Wednesday at 2:00 pm at the United Parish in Bottineau.  Visitation will be Tuesday from 10:00 am until 9:00 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 pm at the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.  Burial will be at the Oak Creek Cemetery in Bottineau.

Floyd William McNea, a son of William and Evaliena (Whitlo) McNea, was born on March 23, 1924 at Bottineau.  He was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather.  Floyd loved his six children and cherished the time he spent with his wife of 70 years.Floyd joined the CCC’s while in high school and later received his high school diploma.  In February of 1943 he enlisted in the US Army.  He was very proud to have served his country during World War II.  He was a T/5 Corporal in the 32nd Armored Regiment of the 3rd Armored Division.  He served in Northern France, Rhineland and Belgium.  He received 3 medals and a badge for his service.  He married Norene Hagen of Omemee on September 28, 1943.  Following his honorable discharge in 1946, they returned to the Bottineau area and farmed for several years.  They later moved to Wahpeton where Floyd received an Associate of Science Degree in auto body repair.  He worked for a time in Mayville.  In 1956, they returned to Bottineau and opened Mac’s Body Shop.  After he retired, he went to work at Theel’s Inc.  He continued to raise cattle until he was in his late 80’s.  Norene passed away on July 8, 2013.

Floyd was a member of the United Parish in Bottineau where he served on the church council.  He was a member of the VFW, the American Legion and the AmVets.  He served on the Whitteron Township Board and the Bottineau County Weed Board.  Floyd was a charter member of the Bottineau County Trailriders where he promoted youth horse shows and trail riding.  He enjoyed sports and was a member of the Men’s Legion Auxiliary Baseball Team.  He enjoyed watching all his descendants participate in sports.

Floyd was a gentleman in the true sense of the word.  He loved people and had a kind heart.  He never spoke poorly of anyone.  Floyd will be missed.

Floyd passed away Saturday, March 29, 2014 at a Bottineau nursing home.

He is survived by 3 daughters, Carolle Tennancour, Rhonda (Paul) Milbrath and Debra (Marc) Nelson all of Bottineau; 3 sons, Gary (Linda) McNea of Bottineau, Melvin (Michelle) McNea of North Platte, NE and Jeff McNea of Bottineau. 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; 4 sisters-in-law, Marlyce (Ray) Cole of Valley City; Jean McNea of Billings, MT, Marilyn McNea of Longmont, CO and Joyce Hicks of Ellis Ville, MO and many loved nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Ronnald Tennancour, sisters, Lucille, Evelyn and Elaine; brothers, Kenneth, Charles, Milton Lloyd and Melvin and 2 great-grandchildren, McKenzie Milbrath and Wade Waagen.

Arrangements were with Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.  Friends may sign the online register book at

.

Gary:I would like to relay a story of a random act of kindness by Dick Johnson.  My mother, Lorraine (Metcalfe) Somers, worked as a secretary in the Dunseith School system for 32 years.  She passed away a year ago come 4/10.  As many know she enjoyed playing guitar and singing.  Although she stopped playing in bands in the mid-1980’s she continued to play at home and on other special occasions (two of which occasions she truly remembered with great pleasure:  the wedding dance and then the 50th anniversary of Duane and Lorraine Peterson).  In any event, one day she was in the local second hand store looking at a mandolin.  Dick Johnson happened to be in the store at the same time.  Having a fondness for all things Bluegrass, my mother always wanted to learn how to play the mandolin, and she thought it might also keep her 69-year-old fingers nimble.  Well, she offered a price to the store owner but he would not come down on the price.  She left the store, went grocery shopping and went home.  About an hour after she arrived at home, the door bell rang and here was Dick Johnson with that very same mandolin.  Dick told my mother that he had always appreciated her playing and singing and that he wanted her to have the mandolin!! I have to say that my mother was never one to cry (many of you know this given her stern lectures and looks when you did something wrong in school), but she cried a good long time after Dick left, and she cried each time she told the story to others.  When she passed away, the mandolin and my mother’s beloved Martin guitar passed on to my brother Rob Olson, the only one of the Olson boys who can play an instrument.  I want Dick to know how much we appreciated his random act of kindness and to know that the mandolin and the story that goes with it is one of our greatest treasures of a life filled with music.

Lyle Olson
Class of 1975