Marvin J. Voigt

life story

Curious and busy, kind and generous.

Marv was ever curious and busy his entire life, and continued working to learn about and do new things until his last days. He was a kind, gentle, and generous man making him the best partner, father, and friend.

Marvin J. Voigt

Marvin J. Voigt, 82, of Roseville, Minnesota (formerly of Mandan, North Dakota and Billings, Montana), peacefully passed away on May 25, 2024, from complications of Parkinson’s Disease, a battle he fought hard against for 27 years.

Born in Bismarck, North Dakota, to Adam and Agnes (née Schafer) Voigt, Marv was curious and busy his entire life, and continued working to learn about and do new things until his last days.

Marv graduated from Bismarck High School in 1960. In 1963, he joined the U.S. Airforce and was stationed in Dover, Delaware. He met Marty (Marjorie) Broome on March 5, 1966, when they were both hanging out at the local Burger Chef. They married on July 22, 1967, in Townsend, Delaware. Upon his honorable discharge from the Airforce, Marv served two years in the Air Reserve while he pursued his degree in civil engineering at North Dakota State University in Fargo.

After graduating, Marv began work for the Federal Government’s Bureau of Reclamation in Bismarck. He was active in various community organizations including serving as an early supporter of Mandan, North Dakota’s, Fourth of July Art in the Park Festival. Marv also was involved in bowling and horseshoe leagues, participated in several Prairie Rose Games, ran many marathons in North Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota, and was an avid and proficient golfer.

Marv’s job with the Bureau eventually took him and Marty to Billings, Montana in 1989, where they lived until Marty’s passing in 2016. He and Marty loved Montana and all the outdoor recreation it provided, especially when it took them to the mountains either for downhill skiing, backpacking, camping, or white-water rafting. Marv and Marty were active members of Billings First United Methodist Church through which they participated in several mission trips to help rebuild homes destroyed in various natural disasters.

Marv retired from the Bureau in 1997, after which he worked as a consultant on engineering projects throughout Montana. Although Marv’s career was in civil engineering and hydrology specifically, he dabbled in all aspects of engineering, particularly electrical and mechanical. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t figure out, fix, or build. In the 1970s, he and Marty built a house by themselves and with the help of a few friends. Marv also built his own snowblower and many other gadgets and devices over the years. With aviation among Marv’s many passions, he obtained his private pilot certification, and when he could no longer physically fly real planes, he played with radio-controlled airplanes, some of which he built himself.

People describe Marv as one of the nicest, sweetest men they know. He was a kind, loving, and supportive spouse, father, and friend. His knowledge and guidance and never-quit-attitude was the foundation of all he did.

Marv was preceded in death by his mother, Agnes, father, Adam, wife Marty, niece Melissa, and brother Clarence and leaves behind daughter Nancy Strege (Bob), son Gary Voigt (Kate), grandchildren Christopher, Erin, and William, his brothers Leo and Max, and many other loving family members and dear friends who all meant the world to him.

A service and celebration will be held in St. Paul. Details to follow. Interment will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, North Dakota.