Neil Hoyt

Neil Kent Hoyt, 65, McHenry, ND, passed away Friday, January 17, 2025, at Jamestown Regional Medical Center surrounded by family. He was born November 18, 1959, to Elery and Delores (Lockner) Hoyt in New Rockford, ND. He grew up on the family farm located near McHenry. He attended Sunday School and was confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. After graduating from McHenry High School he attended Lake Region Jr. College.

In 1980, Neil married Sheri Anderson and they moved back to McHenry where Neil helped operate the family farm with his parents for a few years. Here their family grew with the addition of a son, Jeff, and daughter, Stacy. Later he married Shannon Aquirre and was blessed with two daughters, Eva and Lilly. Neil was very proud of all his children and loved to talk about them. He so looked forward to his visits with Eva and Lilly.

Various jobs he held included gunsmith, owning his own plumbing business, a technician at Klemetsrud, working for several area farmers, and until recently worked for his best friend, Craig Gulstad, who was like a brother.

Neil loved the outdoors, working with his hands, and anything requiring a daredevil attitude, particularly fast cars, motorcycles, and snowmobiles. He was exceedingly mechanically minded. When something broke down and parts for repair were nowhere to be found, he could MacGyver most anything back to working condition. At a very young age he modified his bicycle and turned it into a chopper. Then simulating Evel Knievel he lined up pails between two ramps adding more pails to increase the distance after each successful jump. Impressive for a young mechanic. He held the record for fastest speed while driving between a building and light pole in Glenfield. The family car, a Plymouth Belvedere, to this day bears a dent from this escapade. A nearby railroad overpass embankment provided yet another challenging course. His knowledge of how to push the capabilities of this same car along with his NASCAR driving instincts allowed him to succeed this climb while most others including pickups could not.

He was an avid hunter (possessing expert marksmanship skills), fisherman, and trapper. Being fond of music, he was purchasing records and 8-tracks long before they ever hit the top charts proving he inherited his parents’ love of music. Keeping abreast of the latest political scene via TV, he knew just which rabbit holes to go down to remain politically astute.

Neil was quick-witted and famous for his “one-liners”. He possessed a keen sense of humor and was a true comedian with his hilarious jokes and storytelling,

He is survived by his children, Jeff Hoyt (Jennean McCall) and Stacy; Eva, Lilly, and their mother Shannon; brother Larry Hoyt (Marcia); sisters Judy Hoyt and Ardys (Tom) Dahl.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother Roger, and his faithful furry companions Cujo and Dexter.

Neil will be greatly missed by all those who knew him.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be sent to Bethlehem Cemetery, % Missy Erickson, 9057 16th St. NE, McHenry, ND, 58464.

A service will be held in the spring.