Chester “Chet” A. Yon, 86, of Fountain Hills, AZ, passed away on April 12, 2025, with his family by his side.
Chet was born on July 13, 1938, in Thief River Falls, MN, to Arthur (Art) and Fern Yon. He grew up in Bathgate, ND, where he graduated high school in 1955. He then attended the University of North Dakota, where he was a proud Sigma Chi and earned his law degree.
Chet married the love of his life, Joanne Miller, in 1959, and they shared 60 beautiful years of marriage. They were blessed with three children – Pam, Penny, and Bill. Chet and Joanne raised their family in Roseau, MN, where they lived for 25 years before moving to Fountain Hills, AZ, in 1987.
Chet practiced law for over 60 years, 30 of which were with the invaluable help of his legal assistant and dear family friend, Lee Ann Ferguson. He found great joy in helping his many clients through the years. He greeted everyone with a smile and was always ready to visit.
Chet found much joy in his membership in fraternal organizations throughout the years: he was grateful for and always looked forward to Men’s Club, poker with his buddies in Fountain Hills, and reuniting with his long-time friends in the Bemidji coffee group every summer. He fondly remembered his years in Kem Temple, where he was a founding member of the Snow Nobles and served as Potentate in 1983.
Chet was a man of faith who trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior and relied on God’s faithfulness, guidance, and strength. He loved life and lived it with gusto! He loved classic cars, the lake, the moon, building cozy fires, a good poker game, and scotch on the rocks.
Chet will be deeply missed by his family: daughter Pam Galloway and children Michael, Mary Claire, and Will; daughter Penny Yon-Nemgar (Bob) and children Rachel, Noah (Taylor), Jesse (Ashley), and Sarah; son Bill Yon (Tami), and children Zach and Jenna; six great-grandchildren; sister, Kathy Ramsay; brothers-in-law, Rick Miller (Adriana) and Perry Miller (Lois); and several nieces and nephews.
The family will have a private lakeside service and invite you to celebrate a well-lived life on July 6 at 2:30 p.m. at Slim’s Bar & Grill in Bemidji, MN.
View the complete obituary here: https://www.messingermortuary.com/obituaries/Chester-Arthur-Yon?obId=42041526
