Stuart R. Mitchell

Stuart R. Mitchell, 62, formerly of Crystal and Grand Forks, ND, passed away Sunday, October 22, 2023 at the Luther Memorial Home in Mayville, ND. Funeral service will be held Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Crystal United Methodist Church in Crystal, ND with a visitation at the church one hour before the time of service. Interment will be held in the Crystal Memorial Cemetery.

Stuart Randall Mitchell was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, on September 15, 1961, to Robert B. Mitchell and Laura Fleming Mitchell of Crystal. Stuart grew up on the family farm near Crystal, where he flourished thanks to his mother’s childhood enrichment and teaching efforts. After special education programs were created and funded in the public schools, he graduated from Cavalier High School. Stuart joined Crystal United Methodist Church and remained a member throughout his life.

Stuart resided in Grand Forks from 1984 to 2018. He benefited greatly from programs established and operated by Development Homes, Inc., and the Anne Carlsen Center. Stuart worked many years as a custodian at the Bingo Palace. He had a great fondness for word-search puzzles, calendars, classical music, and NFL football--particularly the Steelers, Chiefs, and Vikings. He also wrote a monthly newsletter, “From the Captain’s Chair,” to send to his family.

In 2018, after he had retired, Stuart moved to Luther Memorial Home in Mayville. He loved the staff there, and that love was reciprocated. During the last week of his life, Stuart also received excellent care from Hospice of the Red River Valley. He died at Luther Memorial Home on Sunday, October 22, 2023.

Stuart is survived by his brother Robert in Seattle, Washington, and his sister Sheila in Wake Forest, North Carolina; their spouses, Grayce Mitchell and Stephen Dacus; four nieces (Carrie Ngongo and Emily Mitchell of Seattle; Laura Wooten of Haarlem, the Netherlands, and Caitlin Dacus of Boulder, Colorado); one nephew (Andrew Dacus of Cary, North Carolina); four grand-nieces; and one grand-nephew.