Douglas Jerome Nephew, 76, died on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026, at his residence in Fertile, MN. The funeral service will be on May 9th at 11 a.m. at Hope Evangelical Church in Fertile with a meal to follow. Visitation will be on Friday May 8th at 5 p.m. with prayer service starting at 6:30 p.m. Burial will be Pleasant View Cemetery, Fertile MN

Doug was born on June 3, 1949, to Frank Jr. and Gladys (Aune) Nephew in Crookston, MN. He attended school at Fertile-Beltrami graduating in 1967. He went on to attend the University of Minnesota- Crookston for 2-years.

On September 14,1974, Doug was married to Grace Ystenes. Together they adopted Molly and Eric. Doug began his working years at Detroiter Mobile Homes, later named Homark, in Red Lake Falls, where he worked from 1969-1986. He chose to work closer to home when he took the service manager position at Christian Motors, Fertile, working there for 20 years. On November 12th, 2004, Doug married Norma (Cota) Johnson – adding to the family her children, Rachel and Coty. Prior to retiring, Doug worked at DigiKey, 4 years at Northern Safety Security (installing medical alerts), Swenby Construction with Curt and Willard, and with his brother-in-law Ross Cota and his son Buckley Cota. He also worked part-time at Erikson-Vik Funeral Home, where he always said, “All you need is a suit and a frown.”

Doug enjoyed outdoor activities; hunting, mowing lawns, and watching his family doing sporting activities. Doug loved dancing – learned from his mother Gladys – and singing in church, talent shows, the fair tent, and doing karaoke. He enjoyed working in the yard with Norma. They were often outside working together tending to the garden and generally beautifying the yard. Indoor activities included reading, playing cards, bible study, and doing devotions with Norma. Volunteering in the community was also important to Doug, FFA, serving as union president at Homark, the SnoCruisers, two-terms on the Fertile City Council, community theatre in Crookston, and was especially proud of 23 years of service on the Fertile Fire Department.

Doug’s heart was to help others. He loved his family, each and every one of them. Doug developed deep faith in God and on November 13th, 2017 he was rebaptized, proclaiming his all in for Jesus! He would refer to himself as a prayer warrior. He went as he had been praying; God answers prayer! He was passionate in sharing his faith with others and hopes they would know Jesus too. In all the hospitals, clinics, and in his community, Norma would often see him encouraging others to find their faith in Jesus and had many opportunities to share the peace he had found in giving his life to Jesus. As he would say, “he was born again!”

Doug is survived by his wife Norma, Fertile, MN; Molly Nephew and Aaron Ness, Eric Nephew, Rachel (JP Meek) Johnson, Coty (Kayla) Johnson; grandchildren: Lars and Daniel Webster, Owen Brockman, Badger Meek; Shyanna, Aryanna, and Ellianna Johnson; Vincent and Oscar Ness; siblings: Sue (Richard) Halstensgard, Nancy (David) Kolb, Brian Nephew, Brenda Miller/Dan Anderson, and Bruce Nephew, brother-in-law Victor Lorlebeg, sister-in-law Darlene Nephew, Tim Miller; several cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.

Those who precede him in death are his parents, Frank and Gladys, sister Janice Lorleberg, brother and sister-in-law Roger and Judy Nephew, brother Dennis, infant brother Wesley Nephew, nephew Kelly Halstensgard, and niece Lisa Ritten.