Funeral services for Michael D. Merwin, 41, Adams Country Rancher, will be Monday, March 15, at 3:00 p.m. at the Hettinger National Guard Armory with Father David Morman, officiating. Burial will follow at the Hettinger Cemetery. Visitations will be Sunday, March 14, from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service on Monday afternoon.

MICHAEL DAVID MERWIN was born on December 29, 1968 to David and Maris (Shaw) Merwin in Hettinger, ND. He was raised on the ranch 12 miles east of Hettinger. Mike attended grade school and high school in Hettinger, graduating in 1986, after which he attended three years of college at Dickinson State University.


Mike met Dee Dee in 1990 during a party at his family ranch where they jitterbugged the night away! Mike's daughter, Allie, was born on October 5, 1991. Mike and Dee Dee lived on the ranch, working for a while then moved to Hysham, MT and worked on the Sarpee Creek Feedlot, then moved back to Bowman, ND where he worked for Leo Heinrich as a ranch hand and later the Hiatt Bee Company. It was at this time he and Dee Dee were married on October 8, 1993. They moved to Rapid City where Mike worked in construction and their son, Sulley was born there on January 27, 1994. The family moved to Hebron, ND where Mike worked at a rendering plant. In January 1995 he began working on a dairy farm; in 1996 they moved back to the home place and worked with Mike's father for a while then moved to Marmarth, ND where Mike worked in the oil field.


Their son Chance was born on September 6, 1997 in Baker, MT when Mike was working for Nabors Drilling for about 10 years. During this time, Mike attended Miles City Community College and became an ASE Certified Mechanic in 2000. The family moved back home to Hettinger and began "THE SHEEP", with his dad, Dave. Neither Mike nor Dave knew too much about sheep, but luckily Dee Dee was very experienced at it!


After several years Mike and Dee Dee decided to buy the place and worked it happily and efficiently for the past five years. On the afternoon of March 9th, 2010, heading back home from Hettinger, Mike died due to injuries sustained in a vehicle rollover accident east of Hettinger, ND. All that had the pleasure of knowing Mike during his life will forever miss him. "The Big Guy" as he was known by his nieces and nephews will never be forgotten. Mike truly was a friend to everyone he met and would always help anyone in need by "paying it forward". He was a fantastic cook and loved to entertain his family and friends.

Mike is survived by his wife Brandy "Dee Dee", daughter, Alexandria White and his two sons Sulley and Chance Merwin, all of Hettinger; his father, David (Peg) Merwin, Hettinger, sister, Geniece (Lowel) Goldade, Sturgis, SD and Michelle Merwin, Minot, ND and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.

Mike was preceded in death by his mother, his grandparents and a special friend, Bill McKeown.