Isabel McBane

Isabel Lillias (Fairgrieve) McBane was born on March 3, 1932, on a farm in southwestern Manitoba, Canada, and died peacefully on May 11, 2025, surrounded by loving family at her home in Rochester, MN.

Isabel cherished her childhood as the youngest of a busy farm family. Her parents, John and Lillias Fairgrieve, immigrated to Canada from Scotland (John) and England (Lillias). Isabel attended Eunola School, a one-room country school which also served as a church and community center. Isabel completed her secondary schooling by correspondence before entering the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg at age 16 and graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics. There she met Dr. R. Donald (Don) McBane at a school dance with Don asking, “Shall we dance?” Don and Isabel married September 1, 1955, moved to Towner, ND, in 1956 and then to Devils Lake, ND, in 1958. They had three children (Laurie, Rob, and John) and made their home in Devils Lake until moving to Rochester in late 2022. Don and Isabel proudly called North Dakota home and became naturalized citizens in 1995, though they always treasured their Canadian roots. Don and Isabel were decades long Fighting Sioux hockey season ticket holders. Isabel dearly loved her family, friends, church, community, and the prairie.

Isabel is preceded in death by her husband Don, parents John and Lillias (Clague) Fairgrieve, in-laws John Kenneth and Ethel (Cordick) McBane, siblings Clague (Aileen) Fairgrieve, Bruce (Isobel) Fairgrieve, Elizabeth (Norman) Philip, and Tom (Lorraine) Fairgrieve, brother and sister-in-law Doug and Mary (McBane) Mitchell, and other extended family.

Isabel is survived by her children Laurie McBane, Rob (Tamara) McBane, and John (Kathy) McBane, grandchildren Robbie (McKenna), Kate, Ian, Lilly, Alec, Grant, Gabrielle, Sophia, and Jillian, nephews and nieces, grand nephews and nieces, and dear friends.

Isabel is loving a huge reunion in a better place though sorely missed by her family and friends. Isabel’s family is grateful for your heartfelt sympathies expressed through word, text, prayer, and meditation.

A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, August 22, 2025, at 3 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Devils Lake followed by a committal service at the Devils Lake Cemetery. Following the services, family and friends are invited for food and fellowship at the Black Paws Brewing Co. in Devils Lake.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the University of North Dakota Foundation Dr. R. Donald and Isabel L. McBane Scholarship Endowment (3501 University Avenue Stop 8157, Grand Forks, ND 58202) or to a charity of your choice.