Donald "Don" Fries, 82, Mott, a man devoted to his faith and family, died on January 8, 2012, surrounded by his family in his home.

Mass of Christian burial is 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 11 at St. Vincent Catholic Church, Mott with Father Charles Zins as the celebrant and Father Joshua Ehli as concelebrant.

Visitation is from 1:00-7:00 p.m. at St. Vincent's Catholic Church, followed by rosary and prayer service at 7:00 p.m all on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Don, the youngest of seven children was born on June 1, 1929, to Jacob and Kathryn "Katie" (Meins) Fries in Mott on the family farm. He joined his sisters Helen, Emmie, Irene and Vernie, and his brothers, Jake and Norbert.

Don attended school in Mott and graduated from Mott High School in 1948. He continued his education at the seminary in Canada for one year. In 1949 he moved back to Mott where he lived in town with his mother to help continue the family farm after his father's death.


In the fall of 1960, he met the love of his life, Margaret "Marge" (Schmitz) through a mutual friend at a bowling alley in Mandan. They were married on September 1, 1962 at Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Golva. Their marriage was blessed with four daughters, and being a man full of humor you would often hear Don remark that "living with five women was an automatic ticket to heaven".

After their marriage, they resided for a short time in Mott, and later homesteaded four miles north of Mott where they farmed and ranched until Don's retirement from the farm in 2004. His daughter Deb and family now reside on the original farmstead North of Mott. In his younger years, Don was involved in a bowling league, and he and Marge would attend many local dances on the weekends. Don's dad had taught him to butcher at a young age and Don developed a passion for making sausage. Marge would often remark with a joke and twinkle in her eye that she married him because he could make such good sausage! Don's love to butcher is a skill he has shared with many. In Don's "retirement" he continued to be very interested in cattle and crops, and would take many trips out to the farm. His love of nature, farming, and of soil continued through gardening. He was very generous with all of his produce and loved to give it to whoever would take it. He also had a passion for card playing and when 4 o clock rolled around he was often found hanging with the "boys" playing cards.

He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Marge, all of his children Donna Fries, Stillwater MN, Diane (Kent) Mortenson of Dickinson, ND, Deb (David) Bohn of Mott and Donelle (Jason) Mogard of Deering ND, Grandchildren Michael, Kendra, Brett Mortenson, Joseph Bohn, Ashley, Lindsey, Katie Mogard, 2 sisters, Emmie Lutz and Irene McKinney, a brother and sister in law Norbert & Frances Fries, and a host of relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Katie Fries, two infant sons, his brother Jake, his sisters Helen Lutz and Vernie Friedt, his grandson, Wade, and other angelic infants.