Herman Melvin Vix, 91, Minot, formerly of Sawyer, died Friday, June 29, 2018, in a Minot Nursing Home.

Herman was born April 16, 1927, at Sawyer, North Dakota, the youngest of five children, to Christ and Emelia (Faul) Vix. He was raised and educated in the Velva and Sawyer area and joined the U.S. Army at the end of World War II. Herman was part of the Occupation Force in Japan and loved talking about his adventures.

After his service, Herman returned to Fresno, California, to live with his brother, Ervin. He completed his high school education and received his machinist certification at a trade school. Herman was united in marriage to Eunice Ann Severson on July 10, 1949, in Sawyer. They made their home in the Sawyer area, where he took over operation of the Vix Coal Company. He "sort of" retired in 1970, to go into farming wild rice near Gonvik, Minnesota. During the years after he left wild rice farming, he used his talent to do odd jobs in the Sawyer area and was in demand as someone who could fix or invent anything. Herman and Eunice left Sawyer to move to Fargo in 2005, and later came back to Minot, before relocating yet again to Goodyear, AZ. After Eunice's death in 2017, Herman returned to North Dakota to be near his sister, Ruth Davidson and made his home at Edgewood Vista in Minot.

Herman was a member of the Sawyer School Board for many years and was very active in the Sawyer community. He loved the hills in the area south of Sawyer and spent many hours hiking the hills and coulees on the old mine property. His children and grandchildren were very important to him, and he was always there for them in their activities. He was a source of strength and common sense for everyone who knew him.

His loving family includes : children, Jane (Barry) Rupprecht, Fargo, ND and Mike (Cathy) Vix, Goodyear, AZ; grandchildren, Kristen (Mark) Chamberlain, Jared (Annie) Rupprecht, Lindsay (Brock) Halvorson, Courtney (Nick) Kovats; great grandchildren, Jordan, Gwyneth, Harper, Dane, Tegan, Brynnlee, Elinor & Oakley; sister, Ruth Davidson, Minot; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Herman was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 68 years, Eunice; brother, Ervin and sisters, Beaeda Berg and Florence Henke; sister-in-law, Betty Vix and brothers-in-law, Clarence Berg, Hugo Henke, and Wallace Davidson; niece, Candace Collins and nephew Dorian Davidson.

Celebration of Life service: Wednesday, July 18, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. in Our Redeemers Church, Minot, followed by fellowship in the church.
Interment: at the Sawyer Mennonite Cemetery, rural Sawyer ND.
Memorials are preferred to the Jock Stevick Endowment Fund through United Community Bank, Minot.