Ervin H. Schell, age 84 of Mercer, ND died peacefully on April 12, 2014 at his home in Mercer. Funeral Services will be held 10:30 A.M. Thursday April 17, 2014 at the Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Mercer with Pastor Randy Emgarten officiating. Burial will follow in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, south of Mercer.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Mercer with a prayer service at 7:30 P.M. Visitation will continue one hour before services Thursday at the church.

Ervin Schell was born February 6, 1930 in Park Township, ND the son of John and Ida (Gaub) Schell. He was raised and educated in a country school in Park Township. He spent his youth helping on the family farm. Ervin married Eileen Violet Laib on September 24, 1952 at his parent's home in Bismarck. Following their marriage they lived in Bismarck until 1953, when they moved to a farm south of Mercer. The farm was purchased from Ervin's uncle, Herbert Gaub. The farm had originally been owned by Ervin's grandfather. They farmed for 17 years before moving into Mercer. Ervin worked for McClusky Lumber and Rust Manufacturing. In 1979 Ervin and Eileen bought Schell's Food Market and also added a hardware department in the adjacent post office. Ervin also drove school bus for the Turtle Lake-Mercer School district. Ervin had a stroke in 1989, but continued to work part-time for the Turtle Lake Park and Chester's Tavern in Mercer.

Ervin enjoyed fishing, camping and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, south of Mercer and later Our Savior's Lutheran Church. He was active in church and various community activities.

Ervin is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Eileen, Mercer, ND; a daughter, Marlene (Robert) Young of Steele, ND; two grandchildren, Charlie (Jessica) Young and Matthew Young, all of Bismarck; two great-grandchildren, Braeden, Dawson and one due in August; a brother and sisters-in-law, Don (Linda) Schell of Detroit Lakes, MN, Doris Schell of Pelican Rapids, MN, Mavis Schell of Bismarck, ND, Vangie Schell of Napoleon, ND; 2 sisters, Anna (Rueben) Schoepp of Bismarck, ND, Lenora Thompson of Mandan, ND; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Marion (Lloyd) Heid of Mercer, ND, Wilbert (Gertie) Laib of New Rockford, ND, Ellen Laib of Winona, MN and many nieces and nephews.

Ervin was preceded in death by his parents, a son Gordon; brothers, Alvin, Richard, Eugene; a sister, Alma Schell; mother and father-in-law, Fred and Martha Laib; sister-in-law, Doris Laib; brothers-in-law, Stanley Thompson, Meinhardt Laib and Leroy Laib; a niece, Deborah Arnold and nephews, Marvin and Robert Laib.