Gerald Franklyn “Frank” Wardner, 81, of Mercer, North Dakota, passed away on Saturday, October 10, 2026, in Turtle Lake, ND. Funeral services will be held at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Mercer, ND on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 10:30AM. Burial will follow immediately at the Hillside Cemetery, Mercer. Visitation will be held at the church on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 6:00-7:30PM with a prayer service starting at 7:30PM. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church.

Frank was born July 30, 1945, in Bismarck, North Dakota, to Alec and Elizabeth “Jack” (Jorgensen) Wardner. The second of five children, Frank grew up in Sheridan County, attending Pickardville Country School and Mercer Public School. In 1959, his family moved to the farm near Mercer that would remain his home for the rest of his life. At the age of 16, Frank began working at the elevator in Mercer, beginning a lifetime of hard work and dedication to agriculture.

On June 6, 1970, Frank married Marlene Joy Monroe at the Presbyterian Church in Bismarck. The newlyweds made their home on the family farm near Mercer, where they began their life together milking cows and farming. In those early years, Friday nights often meant gathering with friends at the Wardner house. Frank made sure the house was clean and ready for company, although that didn't stop him from having a little fun with his guests.

Frank and Marlene welcomed their daughter, Angela Dawn, in 1975, followed by their son, Cody Lee, in 1979. Together, they built a life centered around family, farming, hard work, and plenty of laughter.

Frank farmed alongside his father until 1991 and continued operating the family farm for decades. Never one to shy away from a challenge, he brought his first pair of buffalo to the farm in 1980 and continued raising them until 2013. Frank began to semi-retire in 2012, although anyone who knew him understood that retirement was a relative term. He continued to be involved in the farming operation, running cows through 2024.

While farming was his life's work, Frank always made time for the things he enjoyed. An avid outdoorsman, he loved fishing, whether on the ice or open water, and hunting in just about any season. In true Wardner family tradition, no family gathering was complete without a gopher hunt. Frank took great pleasure in loading up family members, young and old alike, and heading to the pasture in an attempt to eradicate the great range pest. It wasn't necessarily about how many gophers they got, but the time spent together and the stories that came out of it.

And if there was one thing Frank knew how to do, it was telling a story.

Considered by many to be one of the greatest storytellers of all time, Frank had a gift for spinning a tale, getting a laugh, and drawing people in. His stories were always true; except for the parts he made up. Whether he was swapping stories with old friends, sharing family lore with nieces and nephews, or entertaining a room full of people, Frank could always be counted on to make things interesting. He had a magnetic personality, and people naturally gravitated toward him.

Children were no exception. In fact, the rougher and gruffer Frank appeared to be, the more the kids seemed to love him. Beneath that gruff exterior was a man who enjoyed the company of others, especially the younger generations who were always eager to hear what he might say next.

Frank was also an avid card player who was always ready for a game of gin or pinochle. Whether around a card table, in the pasture, or visiting with friends, he enjoyed good company, friendly competition, and the opportunity to share another story.

Throughout his life, Frank was active in his community. He served on the Mercer Township Board, was a member of the Mercer Rural Fire Department, and served as president of the Mercer Sportsman's Club. A lifelong member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, where he was baptized, Frank also served as a Sunday School leader.

In his later years, some of Frank's greatest pleasures came from simply puttering around the farm in his John Deere Gator. He enjoyed checking cows, keeping an eye on his “number one son” as he farmed, and making sure his grandsons were doing their part around the place. Even when he wasn't running the equipment himself, he still wanted to know what was happening on the farm.

Family was always an important part of Frank's life, and he took great pride in watching the next generations grow. After years of being surrounded by boys as a grandfather and great-grandfather, he was especially delighted to finally welcome a great-granddaughter into the family.

Frank leaves behind a lifetime of stories, laughter, memories, and a family farm that reflects generations of hard work. He will be remembered for his quick wit, his larger-than-life personality, his love of the land, and his ability to make nearly anyone feel like they were part of the family. Those fortunate enough to know Frank will undoubtedly have a story or two of their own to tell, and somewhere in the telling, he would surely insist that every word was true.

Frank is survived by his wife, Marlene; his children, Angela (Stan) Misek and Cody (Nicole) Wardner; his grandchildren, Jeremy (Marissa) Misek, Royce Wardner, and Henry Wardner; and his great-grandchildren, Revere, Pierson, and Haven Misek. He is also survived by his siblings, Richard (Kayleen) Wardner, Ron (Susan) Wardner, and Bev Jesz; his brother and sister-in-law, Pat and Bev Monroe; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Karen Wardner; his brother-in-law, Clark Jesz; his father and mother-in-law, Wayne and Marion (Chase) Monroe; and his sister and brother-in-law, Ileen and Herb Fried.