Wesley Donald Vix, 91, Minot and formerly of rural Sawyer, went to his heavenly home on Friday, September 22, 2017, after passing away peacefully at a Minot nursing home.

Wesley was born on May 24, 1926, on a farm southwest of Harvey, North Dakota to Emanuel and Martha (Seibel) Vix. In 1929, the Vix family moved to a farm they purchased south of Sawyer, which remains the family farm. Wesley worked with his father on the farm and, as a member of 4H, raised a steer that won the grand championship at the North Dakota State Fair. He graduated from Sawyer High School in 1943.

Wesley was married to Mavis (Balzer) Vix at the Harvey Mennonite Brethren Church on October 7, 1955, and they took up residence on the family farm, where they raised their two sons and continued to reside until moving to Arbor Crest condominiums in 2002.

Although farming was his vocation, Wesley had many skills. As a young adult he was a lineman for the rural telephone service, and was often called out to climb the poles to make repairs in inclement weather. He was a self-taught carpenter, mechanic and plumber, and his skills as an electrician, learned from a book he bought from a Sears catalog, were utilized by many in the Sawyer area.

Wesley served as treasurer of the Ward County Crop Improvement Association for 27 years and was given a life membership in 1974. He also served a term as Vice President of the North Dakota State Crop Improvement Association.

As a young man, Wesley accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and was baptized into membership at the Sawyer Mennonite Brethren Church. He served that congregation as treasurer, trustee and music director, and was later also trustee at Bible Fellowship Church in Minot.

After his faith, the most important thing in Wesley's life was his family. His grandchildren were very special to him, and he was always interested in their activities and abilities.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Arthur (Emma) Vix; an infant daughter; and daughter-in-law, Annette Vix.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years and 50 weeks, Mavis; son, Lyndon, Maize, KS and his children, Kayla, Kelyn (Marissa), and Kyndra (Jacob) Mullins; son, Kenton (Violet), Sawyer and his children, Jessica (Joel) Allen; Braden, Angela and Peyton; sister, Mariann (Lavern) Quiring, Aurora, NE; and many nieces and nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends.

Celebration of the Life Service : Thursday, September 28, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bible Fellowship Church.
Interment: Mennonite Brethren Cemetery, rural Sawyer, following a fellowship at the church.
Visitation: Wednesday, September 27, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to Bible Fellowship Church, Samaritan's Purse or a charity of the donor's choice.