Bruce May
July 3, 1911- April 1, 2008

Bruce MayHerbert Bruce May, 96, of Mohall, and formerly of Lansford and Minot, died Tuesday April 1, 2008, at the North Central Good Samaritan Center in Mohall. 

Bruce was born July 3, 1911 to Sam and Emma (Miller) May on their farmstead near Lansford, where he was raised.  He worked with his parents and four brothers to farm the land and raise livestock, first with horses and later with machines. He attended Clay Center School and graduated from Lansford High School where he played on the first basketball team and also played baseball.   

At age fifteen, Bruce became sick during harvest with what was thought to be the flu.  It was not until spring that he was diagnosed with polio.  He always walked with a limp but never let it slow him down.  He could still race his young children from the barn to the house.   

In 1942, Bruce bought his own farm in Renville County, between Mohall and Lansford.

He met Martha Quanbeck while roller-skating in Lansford, and they were united in marriage December 28, 1944, near McVille, North Dakota.  Their first home was in Fargo, where Bruce worked as a mechanic, and Martha taught at Oak Grove Lutheran High School.  In 1945 they moved to the farm to raise their family. 

In the late seventies, Bruce and Martha purchased a home in Minot.  For a number of years after that, they returned to the farm for the growing season.  In February, 2002, they moved to Edgewood Vista Assisted Living Center in Minot, where they resided until Martha’s death on July 12, 2003.  Bruce moved to the Good Samaritan Center in Mohall in September 2004.            .

Bruce will be remembered for his delightful and quirky sense of humor, his unfailing positive attitude, and his love for all people. Martha often said Bruce could fix anything, and he enjoyed tinkering with machines and woodworking. He found strength in his faith and was active in both his church homes: Zion Lutheran in Mohall and Bethel Free Lutheran in Minot.  Bruce and Martha had a large extended family due to their big hearts, generosity and concern for children.  Their grandchildren and “adopted” grandchildren brought them much joy. 

Bruce is survived by: his sons, Sam (Meme) of Bismarck, Larry (Sally) of Minot; Don (Caron) of Minot, Aron (Margie) of Lowry, MN; daughters, Nadia (Paul) Smetana of Lansford; Maureen May (Bill Harkey) of Nashville, TN; foster sons, Mark (Patty) Stavem of Tolley; Todd (Melissa) Spencer of Woodward, OK; brothers, Grant of Mohall; Lynn (Betty) of Minot; grandchildren, Chad (Shannon) of Graham, TX; Nicole (Rick) Jorgenson of Redwood Falls, MN; Andrew of Minot; Karla Smetana of Boise, ID; Julie Smetana of Spokane, WA; John Smetana of Bismarck; Erin Lehner, Arlington, VA; Corey (Jason Lascu) and Jordan Harkey of Nashville, TN; Joshua (Nicole) of Fort Riley, KS; Rachel of Grand Forks; Lacy (Joe) Bryce of  West Fargo; Krystal of Mankato, MN; Cody of Crookston, MN; Tanya of Lowry, MN; great-grandchildren, Victoria Jorgenson of Redwood Falls, MN; Jonathan and Caleb of Fort Riley, KS, with 2 more on the way; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, and many more who consider Bruce their “dad” or “grandpa”. 

Bruce was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, one infant son, Brian Howard, two brothers, Avery and Merrill, and one granddaughter, Claudia Marcella May.

Funeral:  Saturday, April 5, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. at Bethel Free Lutheran Church, Minot

Burial:  Mohall Community Cemetery

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