Melvin L. Wilson

Melvin "Sonny" L. Wilson, Jr. 68, Rochert, Minnesota, died Thursday, November 15, 2012 at Sandford Health in Fargo, North Dakota. Sonny was born on February 14, 1944, the son of Melvin and Margaret (Quinlan) Wilson Sr. in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. He was raised and educated in Detroit Lakes. As a young man, Sonny enlisted in the United States Navy in 1961 and received an honorable discharge in 1965. He had four children from a previous marriage. He worked with his dad at Wilsonchr(39)s Plumbing for many years. In 1971, he began his career with Gibbchr(39)s Plumbing in Fargo. Sonny was united in marriage to Darlene Knudsen on December 6, 1971 in Sisseton, South Dakota. He later, worked for Miller Plumbing and Heating in Moorhead for nine years, before spending the last eighteen years of his career with Wenezel Plumbing and Heating in Eagan, Minnesota. Sonny retired in 2003 due to his health and diagnosis of Wagnerchr(39)s Disease. They returned to the Rochert area to be closer to family. Sonny was a Dodge man. He only drove Dodge vehicles and thought everyone should do the same. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, horses, camping, traveling with Tootie and spending time with his family and his dog, Rowdy. The most important part of his life was his love for the Lord. Sonny is survived by his wife, Darlene "Tootie" Wilson of Rochert, MN; his children, Daniel Wilson of Lake City, FL; Tamara "Tammy" Wilson-Yost of Fargo, ND; Randall "Randy" (Rhonda) Wilson of Detroit Lakes, MN; Michelle Oelfke of Frazee, MN; Chris (Don) Abner of Ten Strike, MN; Marty Knudsen, of Missoula, MT; Mark (Lori Reimer) Knudsen Sr. of Rochert, MN; George (Gloria) Knudsen III of Lake Orion, MI and LaDene (Wayne) Earley of Detroit Lakes, MN; Shaun (Erin) Wilson of Webster, SD; thirty-three grandchildren; thirty-eight great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchildren; two sisters, Lorraine Seaberg of Detroit Lakes, MN; Cheryl (Glen) Gunderson of Detroit Lakes, MN; one brother, Jim (Pam) Wilson of Rochert, MN; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Sonny was preceded in death by his parents, four grandchildren, Corey and Casey Knudsen, Angel and Emily Wilson; infant siblings and brother-in-law, Bud Seaberg.