Joe Mattson Stair , 88, 1935 6th St. SE #2, and formerly a longtime McHenry County rancher, died Friday, February 02, 2007, in a Minot nursing home.

Joe was born on August 28, 1918, in Newburg, ND, the son of Thomas Perry and Della Mae (Moore) Stair. He was raised and educated in the Newburg area. Joe assisted his parents in the daily operation of the farm. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on October 12, 1942, and went to Europe as a volunteer member of the 517th Infantry Parachute Regiment, G. Company. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge from start to finish and was on active duty in Sicily, Italy, France, Belgium, and pulled occupation duty in Berlin, Germany. Joe was honorably discharged on December 19, 1945. After serving our country, Joe farmed and ranched near Argusville and Cooperstown, ND, and near Lewistown, MT. He was made a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, in recognition of his war time service and V.F.W. activities.

Joe was united in marriage to Nina Paulsen of Finley, ND, on June 6, 1948, in rural Portland, ND. In 1952, they bought what then became the Stair Ranch, located about three miles south of Denbigh. He had ranched near Denbigh for forty-two years. After his retirement in 1994, he and his wife Nina lived near rural Granville when not at their winter home in McAllen, TX.

Joe was active in many McHenry County organizations. He held offices or memberships in the Rancher's Scale Association, Towner, in which he was a charter member. He was a member of different area square dance clubs, the McHenry County Soil Conservation District, an active member of the N.D. Stockmen's Association and the Presbyterian Church. Joe was also a member of the Veteran's of Foreign Wars #706, in Towner, ND.

Surviving family includes: Wife of 58 years: Nina, Minot; Cousins: Holly (Robert) Wheeler, Tioga, Jamie Stair, Bismarck, Connie (Jim) Hval, Williston, Kristi Stair, Denver, CO; Heather (Chad) Fering, Jody Davidson, Ryan (Janice) Davidson, and Zach Stair; extended family: Lillian Stair Mohler and Buddy Mohler, Florida, William Paulsen, Finley, Elgar (Ernestine) Paulsen, Hannaford, and Eleanor (Harvey) Starbuck, Aiken, SC.

Joe was preceded in death by his father in 1927; mother in 1976, and brother: Harold "Bart" who was killed in action in France in 1944, during World War II.

Funeral Service: Tuesday, February 6, 2007, at 10:00 a.m., in First Presbyterian Church, Minot;
Interment: Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. in North Dakota Veteran's Cemetery, Mandan;
Visitation: Monday from 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot;
Memorials: Memorials are preferred to an organization of the donor's choice.