Marvin Zent

Funeral Mass for Marvin Jack Zent, 57, of Bismarck, ND will be 11:30 a. m. (CST), Friday, December 4, 2009 at the Spirit of Life Catholic Church, Mandan, ND with Father Chad Gion celebrating. Burial will be in the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery, Mandan, ND with military rites by the Bismarck VFW. Visitation will be Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 3 ? 9 pm (MST) at Stevenson Funeral Home in Dickinson continuing on Thursday from 3:30 – 8 pm (CST) with a Rosary Wake being said at 7:00 pm (CST) led by Deacon Rod Palmer at Spirit of Life Catholic Church, Mandan, ND. Marvin passed on December 1, 2009 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Marvin was born on May 24, 1952 in Dickinson, ND. He was raised on his family farm south of Dickinson were he learned the virtue of hard work and determination. Marvin attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School and graduated from Dickinson High School in 1971. The next four years were spent serving his country in the United States Air Force. While serving he worked in communications and was the only one who could repair a teletype machine, sparking an interest in the field of electronics. He was stationed overseas as well as Austin, TX, being honorably discharged June 1972. On July 25th, 1975 he married Kathy (Duppong) Zander and together they had two beautiful children Michelle and Brandon. Marvin worked for SBM in Dickinson and eventually started his own business, Marv?s Office World. Later he managed the heating and air conditioning division at Cenex. While working for Cenex, he returned to his family roots in agriculture by fertilizing crops and cutting hay, spending countless hours outdoors and loving it. He was a member of the Jaycee’s, Knights of Columbus, and Roughriders Commission. In 2000, Marvin moved to Bismarck where he met his wife, Mary Vander Laan. Along with her companionship came a wonderful family. On October 14, 2009 Marv and Mary married in Bismarck ND. Marvin?s hobbies were surrounded by restoring and rebuilding the old to new, which included engines, cars, tractors, go-karts, and gas pumps. For many years, he built demolition derby cars winning best decorated car in 1986. As a handyman, there was no task he could not accomplish; it was very unlikely to see a service man at his home. Marvin will long be remembered for his smile, which was rarely removed from his face. He loved helping others and was a true optimist as he found the positive in everything and everyone. Marvin will be missed and cherished by his family; wife, Mary; daughter, Michelle (Chet) Halvorson, Rock Springs, WY; son, Brandon Zent & Jocelyn Kuhn, Bismarck; grandchildren, Bennett and Calvin, Rock Springs, WY, Riley and Logan, Bismarck, ND; stepson Mike (Tara) Vander Laan, Bismarck, stepson Jason Vander Laan, Bismarck; father, Ralph Zent, Dickinson; brothers and sisters, Shirley (Mike) Gerhart, Dickinson, Joe Zent, Dickinson, Arnie (Linda) Zent, Bismarck, Paulette (Rod) Wenko, Dickinson, Mel (Jan) Zent, Dickinson, Earl (Cheryl) Zent, Eden Prairie, Minn. , Gary (Rae Jean) Zent, Dickinson, Connie (Dan) Witchey, Dickinson, and Jerry (Carol) Zent, Bismarck. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mina Zent; a sister, Darlene; an infant brother, Ralph; and nephew, Wade Zent.


Burial Date: December 4, 2009
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Mass: Friday, Spirit of Life Catholic Church, Mandan, ND