Dano Richard Wilfong , 34, Minot and Douglas, died Wednesday, November 28, 2012 in Minot.

Dano was born at Letterman Army hospital in San Francisco, CA on December 14, 1977, to Delmont (Monty) Wilfong and Diana Sue King. He was a 3lb, 2.5oz miracle baby that struggled early as a baby with open heart surgery and seizures.

He and his family moved to Grand Forks Air Force Base, ND in 1978. This place introduced him to T-Ball, a game that he loved to play. On August 15, 1980, he was blessed with the birth of a new baby brother, Tad.

In 1984, he moved with his family to Atwater, California. Following his parents' divorce later that same year, he and his brother moved with his mother to Barboursville, WV to live with his grandmother, Ruby Jean King. Dano and family then moved to Pocahontas County, Marlinton, WV in 1985, to live with his grandparents, Richard and Jerry Wilfong for approximately a year. Dano and his family finally settled in Hillsboro, WV in 1987, where he would finish his education in 1996, graduating from Pocahontas County High School.

Not long after graduation he met a girl and moved to Valley Head, WV and started his long time restaurant career at the Skidder Restaurant on Snowshoe Mountain. In 1999, Dano moved to Spokane, Washington to live with his father. Within a month of moving to Spokane, he and his brother endured the tragic loss of their mother due to an illness. With courage, Dano continued his career in the restaurant business.

Dano was blessed with the birth of a baby boy, Preston Cordell Wilfong, June 20, 2001. Dano always cherished his son. In 2003, he made a move to Boise, Idaho and became the manager of an Outback steakhouse in addition to attending college at Boise State.

He moved to ND in May of 2010 and started in the Teen Challenge Program where he gave his life to God. Upon completion of the program he lived off and on in Douglas, ND with his father and part-time in Minot, ND. He still maintained his restaurant career, most recently with Montana Mike's, which he loved. Dano loved meeting new people, he also loved to make people smile and to cheer them up when they were sad or just having a bad day. He had a smile and a way with words that would brighten up anyone's day. Dano loved spending time with friends and family and he cherished all the times that he had with us all. Rest in Peace Dano we all love you so very much, you brightened our days.

Dano is survived by his father, Delmont 'Monty' (Celeste) Wilfong, Douglas, ND; son, Preston Cordell Wilfong, Spokane, WA; brother, Tad Wilfong, Douglas, ND; grandmother, Ruby Jean King, Barboursville, WV; stepsister, Retina LaValla, Moorhead, MN; stepbrother, Cody LaValla, Anchorage, AK; uncles, Kim Wilfong, Marlinton, WV and Daron (Angela) Wilfong, both of Marlinton, WV; aunt, Terri Dilley Jannette, Nebraska and cousins, Ben Wilfong, Crystal (Justin) Wilfong Kerr, Whitney Wilfong Brown, and Tyler Wilfong.

Dano was preceded in death by his mother, Diana Sue King, grandparents Richard and Geraldine Wilfong and grandfather, Darrell King.

Visitation: Friday, December 7, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Funeral Service: Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in River of Life Assembly of God in Minot, ND.
Interment: Friday, December 14, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Hatfield Cemetery in Barboursville, WV.
Memorial Service: Saturday December 15, 2012 at Central Union Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. in Pocahontas County, WV.