Jamestown veteran and community member Bernard Michel dies at 81

Bernard "Bernie" Michel, 81, a lifelong Jamestown resident and North Dakota National Guard veteran, died Jan. 14 in Jamestown. Michel’s military service, decades of local employment and presence in community life made him a familiar figure to neighbors, co-workers and fellow veterans across Stutsman County.

Michel was born Sept. 26, 1944, in Jamestown and graduated from Jamestown High School in 1966. He served in the North Dakota National Guard and retired as a staff sergeant in 1987, a rank that reflected long-term commitment to state military service. His civilian work life included positions at Goodrich, the North Dakota State Hospital and Ken’s Auto, placing him in manufacturing, healthcare and local small business sectors that form a core of Jamestown’s economy.

Outside work and duty, Michel enjoyed fishing, hunting and spending time with family and friends. Those personal ties shaped his role in community life, linking him across generations. He is survived by three daughters, Theresa Lafferty, Barb Michel and Lavonne Kiser, as well as seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Local memorials brought neighborhood and church communities together. A prayer service took place at Eddy Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, followed by a Celebration of Life at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Jamestown. Those gatherings provided opportunities for residents to pay respects and for veterans and former colleagues to acknowledge Michel’s military and civilian contributions.

Michel’s life threads through several institutions central to Jamestown’s civic fabric: the North Dakota National Guard, the ND State Hospital and neighborhood businesses. His death highlights how individual lives connect to broader local services and community networks. For veterans and families in Stutsman County, the passing of someone who combined service, steady local employment and active civic participation resonates beyond a single obituary.

As Jamestown residents remember Bernard Michel, his story serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving local histories of service and supporting the families of those who have shaped civic life. The community will carry forward the personal and institutional links Michel represented as neighbors, veterans groups and local employers continue their work in the weeks ahead.