Donald Raymond Ackerman

Buck Died (That was all Buck wanted for his obituary but as usual his daughter didn’t listen!) Donald Raymond Ackerman was born at the family farm in Lake Township, ND on July 22, 1934 to his parents Raymond and Christine Ackerman.  From his home on June 1, 2019 he said his final goodbye to his family and his beautiful Lake Ida. Donald attended rural school in and around Page, ND for his first few years and then when the family moved to Valley City, ND he attended St. Catherine School from which he graduated in 1951. After graduation he went to SD to help his uncle on their cattle ranch.  He stayed there for a couple of years but then in 1953 he returned to Valley City and Joined the Navy.  He was the radio man in the planes and used to love telling stories about all the places they flew to (and the good times they had).  In fact, when his daughter traveled for her job she would tell him where she was headed to make sure it was safe to mention his name in that city! He left the Navy after 8 years and returned to Fargo and attended North Dakota State University where he got a bachelor’s degree in University Studies (same degree as a neighboring state governor and former software executive).  He worked at various jobs including cab driver and the at the Fargo Vault Company.  He joined the Air National Guard in Fargo (1965 to 1994) and worked in the radar shop there until he retired as a Senior Master Sergeant in 1989.  After retirement, Donald worked a few part time jobs but the one he missed the most after he could no longer drive was TS Dock and Lift. Donald will be cremated and buried in the new Fargo Veterans Cemetery. He is survived by his 2 ‘bosses’: his (Finlander) fiancé of more than 30 years, Luree Mercer and his daughter Kathi Halvorson (Jim Zvirovski).  He is also survived by his sister Shirley Goeller, nephew Brad Goeller, niece Lorrie Muckenhirn (John), Luree’s son, Chad Mercer and Luree’s daughter, Brook Mercer, and is grandpa to Jax and Jett.  He also has several ‘great’ nieces and ‘great’ nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, his son-in-law Gary Halvorson, his sister Mavis Ertelt (and her husband Lester), Shirley’s husband Joe Goeller, his niece Julie McLain (and her husband Harley McLain) and his nephew Steven Goeller. We want to thank Hospice of the Red River Valley for the kindness and care the provided to Buck.  They allowed him to spend his final days in the place he loved the most. Donald always said he got all his religion at St. Catherines so he didn’t need a funeral.  To honor his request a visitation and memorial service will be held at Cormorant Lutheran Church, Lake Park, MN.  Visitation will be from 2 – 3 pm with service to follow at 3 pm.  Of course, we can’t say goodbye without a sendoff from one of Don’s favorite places, the Cormorant Pub.  Please join friends and family there after the service to share more of your favorite stories!