December 13, 2017

Sidney McMahen

Sidney E. “Sid” McMahen, 76, of Williston, N.D., passed away Dec. 3, 2017, at his home in Williston.
Sidney was born the eldest child of Thomas W. (Bill) McMahen and Lucille Margaret (Hart) McMahen on Aug. 27, 1941, in Richardton, N.D. Sidney attended school in Werner, N.D., Coleharbor, N.D., and graduated from Watford City High School in 1959. Sidney participated in Junior Legion Baseball, and Football. Sidney was a Co-Captain on the football team his Senior Year.
Sidney enlisted in the United States Army in June of 1959, serving his enlistment in Germany. He was discharged in May 1962. He re-entered the Army in Nov. 1962. Sidney served in Okinawa, Fort Lewis, Wash., then Germany again for a short time. He was in the Republic of South Vietnam for better than three-and-half years, most of three tours, where he participated in the TET 68 Offensive with the 1st ID, the Cambodian Offensive with the 4th ID, Lam Son 719 with CO E, 50th Infantry and as an Advisor with the 4th ARVN Ranger Group in the Mekong Delta. Sid was discharged from active duty and later entered the North Dakota National Guard where he served until his discharge and retirement in 1987. Sid retired as a Platoon Sergeant E-7, Sid’s decorations included the Combat Infantryrman’s Badge, Vietnamese Ranger Badge, Purple Heart, Bronze Star with OLC, ACM with 2 OLC’s, National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal with nine Campaign Stars, Vietnamese Campaign Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was a member of several Veteran’s organizations, including the US Army Ranger Association, the 35th Infantry Retirement Association, and a past Commander of the Williston DAV Chapter. Sid also served as a member of the Williston Veterans Honor Guard for nine years. Sid was proud of this military service, and said that it was the defining event in his life.
Sid was once married in 1971, a marriage that ended in divorce in 1981, Sidney went to work in the oilfields of North Dakota in 1971, he worked for several oil company’s and was a Senior Production Foreman with Tenneco Oil Company. At the time of his retirement in 2003, he was working as a Well Site Consultant with Petroleum Experience in the Williston Basin. Sidney’s greatest joy in life was time spent with his dogs. He much enjoyed fishing and especially with his dogs. He could often be found at 2 a.m. reading History of all sorts.
Sid was preceded in death by his parents.
Surviving Sid are, his sister, Kay of St. Paul Minn.; brothers, Kenneth, of Bennett Colo., Tim of Epping, N.D., and Mike of Farmington, N.M.; and his best friend Callygirl.
His funeral was celebrated Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, at 11 a.m., at the Everson Coughlin Funeral Home Chapel in Williston. Rev. Ross Reinhiller officiated and interment was on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, at 1:00 p.m., at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, N.D.
Friends may visit www.eversoncoughlin.com to share remembrances of Sid or leave condolences for his family. The Everson Coughlin Funeral Home of Williston is caring for the family.

 

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