Francis Lyle "Bub" Neshem , 84, Berthold, died Monday, December 10, 2007 in a Minot Healthcare Center.

Francis was born August 25, 1923 and raised on the family farm near Lonetree, ND, the son of Henry and Emma (Braseth) Neshem. He graduated from Lonetree High School in 1941. He entered into active duty service with the U.S. Navy in May 1944 and served during World War II in the Pacific Theatre until receiving his honorable discharge in February of 1946. He was a machinist on the USS Cleveland which accompanied General Douglas McArthur on his return to the Phillipines.

Bub was united in marriage to Julia Nicolaisen on January 24, 1945 at Minot. They made their home in the Berthold area where they operated a small grains farm which served as the base for their other business interests.

In 1949 Bub founded an earthmoving construction business called F.L. Neshem Construction which he operated for twenty years. His company built over 200 miles of roads in Renville County, graded the land for Bishop Ryan High School, the Town and Country Shopping Center, the railroad trackbed to the Minot Air Force Base and completed many soil conservation projects for area farmers. The business continues today as Gratech Company, Ltd.

In 1955, at great personal risk, before the advent of mechanical heart assists, he "loaned" his heart for experimental open heart surgery performed in Minnesota on the young son of long time family friends. During the surgery, tubes from the child's chest were connected to an artery in Bub's leg and his heart and lungs did the work for both. He lost 30 pounds of weight as a result of the 28 minute operation.

In 1961 he and a partner purchased a welding supply business in Minot which they expanded and later sold to a large, national company.

In 1978, Bub began a grain elevator construction and millwright business known as Western Builders, Inc. which operates in western North Dakota and eastern Montana. He designed and built one of the first unit train loadout systems in North Dakota. He also designed and built the first portable seed cleaner able to pass the North Dakota State Seed Department certification requirements for cleaning certified seed and foundation seed. He sold this business to his employees in 2003 but remained actively involved until 2006.

Bub was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Berthold and a member of the Berthold Lions Club and American Legion Club. He was one of the founders and had served as State and National President of the Land Improvement Contractors Association. He was a member of the Minot Moose Lodge, where he served on the Board of Trustees and danced with the Polkateers. He also sponsored and built the B and J Horseshoe Pit. He was a former member of the Minot Elks Lodge #1089 and the Des Lacs Valley Rifle Club. He and Julia have been strong supporters and benefactors of Metigoshe Ministries programs, including the Koinonia Center.

Bub enjoyed creating things, working hard, dancing with Julia every Saturday night and spending time with family and friends. He was always ready, day or night, to help anyone with an emergency repair. He was considered a genius with metals and mechanics and was especially proud of the John Deere tractors that he re-powered with Caterpillar engines.

His loving family includes : wife: Julia Neshem, Berthold; children: Harley (Nancy) Neshem, Berthold, Larry Neshem, Berthold, Evonne Richardson, San Marcos, CA, Gary (Becky) Neshem, Berthold, Laurie Neshem, Scottsdale, AZ; eleven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Clara Neshem, Eunice Neshem; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Bub was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Henry and Gerald, sisters, Frances Lorraine and Evelyn and son-in-law, Bill Richardson.

Funeral service : Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. in Zion Lutheran Church, Berthold, ND.
Internment : Wildrose Cemetery, rural Berthold, ND.
Visitation: Wednesday from 2:00-7:00 p.m.in theThomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to Metigoshe Ministries in lieu of flowers and plants.