Chester Arthur Yon, known to many as “Chet,” passed away on April 12, 2025, at 86, surrounded by his family in Fountain Hills, Arizona. He was born on July 13, 1938, in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, to Arthur and Fern Yon, and he spent his formative years in Bathgate, North Dakota.
Chet pursued higher education at the University of North Dakota, where he joined Sigma Chi and earned a law degree. In 1959, he married Joanne Miller, with whom he shared 60 years of marriage, raising three children, Pam, Penny, and Bill. The family resided in Roseau, MN, for 25 years before relocating to Fountain Hills in 1987.
With a legal career spanning over 60 years, Chet practiced law alongside his longtime legal assistant, Lee Ann Ferguson. Known for his cheerful disposition and dedication to his clients, Chet left a lasting impression on many.
In addition to his professional achievements, Chet was actively involved in various fraternal organizations. He participated in the Men’s Club, poker nights in Fountain Hills, and gatherings with the Bemidji coffee group. He also remembered his time in Kem Temple and contributions to the Snow Nobles, serving as Potentate in 1983.
A devoted man of faith, Chet embraced life with enthusiasm, enjoying classic cars, lakeside retreats, and other pastimes such as poker and creating cozy fires. He leaves behind a family that includes daughter Pam Galloway and her children, daughter Penny Yon-Nemgar with her family, son Bill Yon and his children, six great-grandchildren, his sister Kathy Ramsay, brothers-in-law, and several nieces and nephews.
The family plans a private service by a lake and invites friends to commemorate Chester's life on July 6 at Slim’s Bar & Grill in Bemidji, MN. Further details about Chester Arthur Yon's life and obituary can be found on the Messinger Mortuary website.