Dr. Duncan Perry

Duncan Richard Perry, D.D.S., 82, Bismarck, died June 19, 2010 at St Alexius Hospital in Bismarck. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11:00 AM at First Presbyterian Church in Bismarck with Rev. Jake Kincaid officiating. Burial will be at the ND Veteran’s Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Dr. Perry has been an active and generous member of this community for his entire life. He was born to Isabel and Harold T. Perry in Bismarck on July 27, 1927. Duncan graduated from Bismarck High School in 1946. He became an Eagle Scout and excelled in athletics including football and track and field. For three summers in the 1940s he served in the US Forestry Service in Montana and Idaho fighting fires. After high school, he joined the US Navy. After the Navy, he attended Bismarck Junior College and the University of North Dakota prior to entering dental school at Northwestern University in Chicago. He married Donna Henry of Westhope, ND in 1951. After graduating from dental school in 1953, he returned to Bismarck where he joined in his father’s dental practice. He was a well-respected dentist for almost 50 years. During these years he was notable for his willingness to support and encourage his colleagues and provide care for those with few resources. Dr. Perry served as the President of the North Dakota Dental Association and was inducted into the International College of Dentistry, a rare honor. Dr. Perry was a member of many organizations, playing leadership roles in the Boy Scouts, United Way, Elks and Exchange Club, among many others. He was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church. In the last years of his life he helped found The Perry Karlgaard Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to support student athletes in the cross country and track and field programs at Bismarck High School. He was a curious, bright and creative man with many skills including painting, sculpting and woodcarving. All who met him were cheered by his humor and moved by his generous spirit. He is survived by his brother, Harold Perry of Florence, OR; his children, Barbara Perry of Douglas, GA, Bruce and Barbara Perry of Houston TX, John Perry of Rock Creek, MT, and Burt Moffatt of Fargo, ND; his grandchildren, Ansley Magit of San Francisco, CA, Kate Cichy of Sioux Falls, SD, Rebecca Geiger of Mandan, ND, Jay Perry of Chattanooga, TN, Elizabeth Perry of Silverthorne, CO, Katharine Perry, Martha Perry, and Robert Perry, all of Houston, TX, Rivers Perry of Rock Creek, MT, and Alisha Moffatt of Fargo, ND; and his great-grandchildren, Madeline Perry of Chattanooga, TN, and Alexander Moffatt of Fargo, ND. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to The Perry Karlgaard Foundation at 734 Aspen Place, Bismarck, ND 58503.

Dr. Duncan Perry

July 27, 1927 - June 19, 2010