Myron H. Atkinson Jr.

Myron H. Atkinson, Jr, Long-time Bismarck resident died June 12, 2017, at CHI St Alexius Health, Bismarck. Mass of Christian burial will be held 11 a.m. Friday, June 16, at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, 519 Raymond St, Bismarck, with Monsignor Thomas Richter officiating. Burial will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Bismarck, where a rosary/vigil service will begin at 7 pm. Born in Bismarck on September 22, 1927, son of Myron Sr. and Julia Atkinson, Atkinson graduated from Bismarck High School, Bismarck Junior College and the University of North Dakota with degrees in Business and Law. After U.S. Army Service in 1952-54 during the Korean War he returned to Bismarck and practiced law along with his business career. In 1956 Atkinson was one of the founders of North Dakota Guaranty and Title Company where he served as President until his retirement in 1992. His business activities also included real estate development, radio and television broadcasting, and mobile home park construction and sales. He was a Director of Norwest Bank - Bismarck, for 21 years. Myron served at various times as president of the Bismarck Chamber of Commerce, United Way, St Alexius Medical Center Lay Advisory Board and many other local organizations. He was one of the organizers and later served as chair of Bismarck Development Association, part of his lifelong effort to encourage economic development in the Bismarck area. With a special interest in education, Atkinson taught real estate courses at both Bismarck State College and the University of Mary in conjunction with the North Dakota Real Estate Commission, of which he was a member and president.   He served several times as President of the University of Mary Board of Regents, was a founding Director and later President of the Bismarck Area Catholic Education Foundation and was President of the Bismarck State College Foundation. Atkinson was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives in 1968 and served until 1976 when he chose not to run. For six years he was Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. He also held many positions in both the local and state Republican Party including serving as Chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party from 1981-1983. At the time of his death, Myron was actively involved in many projects including the Bismarck Historical Society, Atkinson Nature Park, and restoration of Camp Hancock. In 1951, Myron Atkinson and Marjory Barth of Bismarck were married at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. They had seven children who are Timothy (Faye), Bismarck, Sister Kathleen, Bismarck, Thomas (Robyn), Bismarck, Patrick, Bismarck, Minneapolis, and Antigua, Guatemala, Elizabeth (Murray Wolf), Minnetonka, MN, John (Sharon), Mesa, AZ, and Paul (Lisa), Prior Lake, MN. Myron is survived by his wife, their seven children and spouses, 17 grandchildren, Isaac Pavlicek, Joshua Atkinson, Derek Atkinson, Scott Atkinson, Ernesto Atkinson, Andrew Wolf, Matthias Wolf, Nicholas Atkinson, Christian Atkinson, Joseph Atkinson, Michael Atkinson, Shannon Johnson, Kelli Erdmann, Sophia Wolf, Marjorie Atkinson, Julia Atkinson, Maria Atkinson, and six great-grandchildren, Jordan Pavlicek, Aidan Johnson, Barrett Erdmann, Aurora Johnson, Abigail Johnson, Jayda Pavlicek. Myron was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Caroline Moyer. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to God’s Child, PO Box 1843, Bismarck, ND, 58502 or Ministry on the Margins, 205 N 24th St, Bismarck, ND, 58501.