Merle Herbert Huseth

Born on November 26, 1942 in Wahpeton, North Dakota, Merle was the son of Nelius Marvin Huseth and Hattie Ida Lenaburg Huseth. He was the youngest of four brothers and one sister.

Merle was an avid athlete in school. He played football, basketball, and ran track and field. He was recognized as an all-conference football halfback and team Most Valuable Player. He also played trumpet in the concert and marching bands, changing from his football uniform at halftime. He held the North Dakota state record for the 200-meter dash for 35 years. He lettered in track at the age of 15 in his favorite 440-yard dash event.

Following graduation from Tioga High School, Merle attended Minot State College in North Dakota for one semester before enlisted in the United States Navy. In four years, he served two tours of duty as an anti-submarine warfare airman specialist on rescue helicopters based on several different aircraft carriers, including The Hornet and The Intrepid. He received the Medal of Valor and the Navy Commendation Medal: when his helicopter was shot down during a rescue operation in North Vietnam, he helped to keep his squadron safe until another helicopter arrived. He was the last person to climb the rope ladder to the helicopter before the squadron was airlifted out.

With the help of the GI Bill, Merle went on to attend California State at Long Beach. He completed his accounting degree in three years and passed the CPA exam while delivering newspapers to make ends meet. After a few years with the accounting firm Kenneth Leventhal, he became the treasurer for one of his clients - the Park City Ski Resort in Park City, Utah. There, he met his wife, Cindy Wall, and had two children, Justine and Fielding.

Merle built a name for himself in both the ski industry and in real estate, going on to oversee a large real estate project in Big Sky, Montana and then returning to Park City to help develop and run Deer Valley Ski Resort. With his close friend and colleague, Bob Wells, Merle then developed Stag Lodge - world-class mountainside residences in Deer Valley.

He and his family later moved to New Jersey, where Merle became President for the Northeast Region of K. Hovnanian Homes. In 2000, Merle retired at the young age of 59. He and Cindy sought warmer weather in Palm City, Florida, where they lived for the next 16 years. Merle loved taking care of his pets, feeding birds, swimming, trap shooting, golfing, and taking cruises with his wife and children.

Four of Merle's siblings previously passed away: Vernon, Duane, Ermund, and his sister, Dorothy Schmidt. He is survived by several family members: his brother, Darrell; his wife, Cindy; his daughter Justine Day Huseth; his son, Fielding Evan Huseth; his two grandsons, Wyatt Fox Huseth Arnold and Desmond Morgan Huseth; and his beloved Catahoula hound, Molly.

A service with military honors will be held at a future date.

For those who wish to send memorial gifts, please consider the Humane Society.

Condolences may be shared at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.