Mervin W. Failing

Mervin W. Failing, 58, of Poplar, Mont., died of lung complications on Saturday, June 29, 2013, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, S.D.

A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 4, and Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 5, followed by interment in the Poplar City Cemetery in Poplar. Both services are to be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Poplar.

He was born on Aug. 6, 1954, in Poplar, Mont., the son of Wayne and Mavis E. (Buckles) Failing. He was raised in Poplar and graduated from Poplar High School in 1972. He attended college in Glendive and Haskell, which is located in Lawrence, Kan. He served in the U.S. Air Force, serving in New York and Texas.

He played basketball and was a referee. He also enjoyed hanging out with his grandkids, reading, and having a good laugh with his family. He gave everyone a nickname.

Survivors include his parents, Mickey and Wayne Failing, of Poplar; one son, Michael Failing of Wolf Point; two daughters, Marlene Grainger and her husband, David, of Poplar, and Martha Kearns and her husband, Jason, of Spokane, Wash.; two sisters, Allison Failing of Poplar, and Rose Atkinson and her husband, Denver, of Poplar; three brothers, Carl Failing and Marvin Failing and his wife, Jeanette, all of Poplar, and Jerry Failing and his wife, Jen, of Wolf Point; and six grandchildren.

Bell Mortuary of Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.