Melroy "Mel" G. McPhail

On September 5, 2022 we lost a truly good man. Melroy Gene McPhail of Plymouth, MN came from the humble beginnings of Crete, ND. This small-town upbringing blessed him with a loving family and community that shaped his character and fueled his future.

Mel believed everyone was valued and deserved to be treated with respect and a warm smile. Sometimes they also needed a hand -- be that a handshake, a handout, a guided assist or a pull up from a tough situation. Mel was the first to offer that hand. He had a way of walking into a room, with a smile on his face, that made the room a little brighter. Always the first to invite you to sit, offer a beer, laugh the loudest, hug the strongest or listen the longest, Mel made friends easily and often turned them into deep, long relationships. He was fiercely loyal to his many friends and deeply devoted to his immediate and extended family. Mel had no patience for boasting and bullying —heeding his father’s earliest advice “if you are truly good at something, you won’t need to talk about it. Others will notice and do the talking for you.” People noticed Mel because of how he made them feel. Everyone felt his kind heart, genuine warmth and silly sense of humor. When you met Mel, you knew he was someone special and wanted him a part of your life.

The early ingrained values of loyalty, service and hard work fueled his professional path where Mel was a 37-year employee of Cargill. Additionally, he served in the U. S. Navy during the Vietnam War.

Mel’s legacy lives on through his wife of 55 years Marilyn; their three children Mark (Alison), Kristie (Troy) and Marly; nine grandchildren (Keegan, Aidan, Hannah, Conor, Kiley, Sam, Leah, Addy and Tyler); three grand dogs (Archie, Millie and Beau); sister Marcia (Jack Conrad) and her family; brother Rod (Cheryl); many loved extended family and his numerous and beloved friends. We will miss his warmth, humility, wry sense of humor and that mischievous smile.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Church of St. Bartholomew, 630 Wayzata Blvd, Wayzata, MN on Thursday, September 15 at 11:00am. Celebration of life activities will take place in Oakes, ND on September 17. Details can be found at https://www.dahlstromfuneralhome.com/obituary/melroy-mcphail .

In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of Mel’s favorite charities (USO, Second Harvest Heartland, Animal Humane Society) or one of your choice.

In a world where you can be anything, his family suggests trying to be more like Mel.