Dennis Vinger, 80, formerly of Wheelock, ND, and Wolf Point, MT, went home to his Heavenly Father on Sunday, June 20, at the Comfort Care facility in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ. Funeral services will be held at the First Lutheran Church in Wolf Point, MT at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 1 st . His son, Brent Vinger, will host a luncheon at the Cattleman’s Cut following this service. The burial will be on Friday, July 2 nd , at 11:00 AM at the Wheelock Cemetery, near Wheelock, ND, with a Celebration of Life Service immediately following at the Epping Pavilion in Epping, ND. Lunch will be served at the Epping Pavilion following the service.
Dennis Lamont Vinger was born June 5 th , 1941, in Williston, ND, to Olaf and Olive (Gilbertson) Vinger. He was raised on the family farm northwest of Wheelock, ND, and educated at the Wheelock School. On March 13, 1959, he was united in marriage to Janice Arcand of Wheelock. He was inducted into the United States Navy in San Diego, CA, later that spring, and received an honorable medical discharge that same year. He and Janice made their first home in Wheelock where they began their family. The young family soon moved to Epping, ND, where he worked for Hank Farver at the Epping Elevator. The family later moved to Denton, MT, where Dennis was called to be the manager at the Denton Elevator. He began his long career with Cenex as manager in Wolf Point, MT, in 1975, and retired as Regional Manager more than 30 years later. He met and later married Barb Solie and the couple moved to Surprise, AZ, when he became ill with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and needed a double lung transplant in 2010. Barb was instrumental in arranging his double lung transplant, as well as the move to Surprise. She was a fabulous caregiver for him during his convalescence.
He was a member of the Wheelock Lutheran Church, a member of the Wolf Point Credit Union, he served on the Chamber of Commerce board, the Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede Board, and was very active in the community. His six children, 23 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and his 2 great-great-grandchildren were his pride and joy. He also enjoyed golf, basketball, hunting, country music, and traveling with the rodeo circuit helping with the Brookman stock. He felt truly honored when he was named Grand Marshall of the Wolf Point Stampede in 2011.
Dennis is survived by his only son, Brent Vinger (Jessica), of Wolf Point, and his son, Dr. Jorden Vinger, and Jessica’s daughter, Mariah, as well as Dennis’s daughters, Vickie Heller and her husband, Greg of Williston, ND, their children, Jed (Desirae) and Ticinie (Dan) Weber; Cindy Stensland of Wolf Point, MT, and her children, Josh (Betsy), Katlin (Jamie) and Randy; Brenda Hegge and her husband, Keith, of Billings, MT, and her children, Kristopher (Traci), Kegan (Heather), Colton and Chelby; Christy Jeannotte and her husband, Randy, of New Town, ND, their children, Tyler (Lauren) and Shandi (Aaron); Tonya Brost and her husband, Jerry McDowell, of Dickinson, ND, and her children, Kolby (Jelisa), Dawson (Megan), Cutler (Danika) and Easton. He is also survived by his brothers, Orren (Elaine) Vinger of Chandler, AZ, Russ (Collie) Vinger of Jolliet, MT; his sisters, Carole (Ron) Haug of West Fargo, ND, and Gayle (Lonnie) Malwitz of Lakeville, MN, his sister-in-laws, Doris (Richard) Vinger of Grand Forks, Sylvia (Cliff) Vinger of Williston, and Doris L. (Myron) Vinger of Bozeman as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Barb, his infant daughter, Wendy Lou, his son-in-law, George Stensland, his brothers, Oscar Vinger, Gene (Alice) Hermanson, Richard Vinger, Clifford Vinger, Larry (Sandi) Vinger, Myron Vinger, and his sisters Inga (Clifford) Stewart, Olga (Jerry) Jordan, Mabel (Hugh) Lindsay, Lyla (Gil) McKee, Eunice (Bill) Broomfield, Delores (Alvin) Steen, Ada (Bob) Greenhalgh, and Marlene (Bob) Dietz.
Friends may visit Wednesday night between 5-7 p.m. at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point and for an hour before the service at the church on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Wolf Point Stampede Committee.