Levi Newport, 79, Minot died on January 26, 2014 in a Minot hospital.

Levi Newport was born on September 24, 1934, to Lyman and Sigrid (Thoreson) Newport. He was reared on a farm in Afton Township of Ward County. He participated in FFA and 4H by showing his prize calf and judging grain at the ND State Fair. He enjoyed boxing, golfing and other sports. His father, Lyman, could never understand why anyone would chase a little white ball through the pasture. He graduated from Minot High School in 1952, earning a full scholarship to Valley City Agricultural College in ND; however, he was not allowed to attend. Later however, he attended Minot State University, from which he graduated. He also attended the Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia in connection with BNRR. Levi worked on his parent's farm and for other farmers in the area. He traveled the U.S. in the summers with Mitchell Bober's combining group.

On a bright sunny day--40 degrees plus--with no wind, he and Shirley Sorensen were married at Saron Lutheran Church, December 19, 1954. After their marriage, Levi and his wife operated South Prairie Service (gas station, grocery store, caf) located south of Minot. He worked for Gil Lunders Kiddiland and Road Show. He went to work for the Great Northern Railroad in 1956 as a carman apprentice and later carman. During this time he worked for Swift and Company. During this time he also built his home in Minot. He later graduated from MSU while working for the RR. He was promoted from carman to shop engineer at Havelock, Nebraska (Lincoln). He was active in the community with such things as the Junior Achievement organization. He was promoted to Asst. Chief Mechanical Officer in company headquarters in St. Paul, MN. He enjoyed flying lessons with his brother-in-law Richard.

In 1982, he was among the first employees transferred to the new company headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. There, he was the Superintendent of the Car Planning and Mechanical Division.

He retired in 1996, without missing a day of work in forty years. He had traveled widely in that area of the southwest and Mexico as well as the central U.S. He returned in Minot in 1999 to the house he had built in the early 60's. He continued to maintain his farming interests and enjoyed membership with many contributions benefiting trees, animals, water ways, and land in regards to other conservation efforts. He had a love of animals throughout his life. He enjoyed fishing with his father-in-law Nels who could always find a "soft" rock on which to sit. Levi also enjoyed playing Secret Santa (for the majority of his life) for those less fortunate than he was. He never smoked or chewed tobacco and walked every day 3-5 miles no matter how bad the weather was. Prior to moving with the RR, he was a member of Saron Lutheran Church where he was baptized and confirmed and later married. During his good health, he was a lifelong blood donor.

Levi is survived by his wife of 59 years, Shirley; 4 children- Peggy (Tim) Jensen; Vicki Newport; Kathy (Daniel) Nelson; Julie Corbin (Daniel, deceased); grandchildren- Christopher Jensen (Nikki) (only great granddaughter, Amelia); Tianna Jensen; Margaret Nelson; Andrew Nelson; Anthony Corbin; Alexander Corbin (fiance Cari Marks); Adam Corbin. Additionally, his brother Neil (Rita) Newport of RR Minot; his sisters LeVere (Neil) Draper of RR Minot, and Nicki Newport of Arizona. His cousins Delores Synnott and LeRoy Lawson, and several nieces and nephews.

Levi was preceded in death by his parents, paternal and maternal grandparents and his son-in-law, Daniel Corbin.

Celebration of the Life of Levi Ne wport : Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in Saron Lutheran Church - rural Minot.
Interment will be in Rosehill Memorial Park - Minot.
Memorial Booksigning : Friday from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the organization of the donor's choice.