Sharon Marie (Davis) Messer, 71, Richardton, died on Thursday, October 30, 2025 at Sanford Medical Center, Bismarck with family by her side. Sharon’s Celebration of Life Service will be at 1 p.m., Monday, November 10, 2025 at the Richardton-Taylor Public School Gymnasium, Richardton with Pastor Terry Pflugrad and Pastor Kris de Bruin as officiants. Inurnment will take place at the Seventh-day Adventist Cemetery, Hebron.

Sharon Marie Davis was born in Medford, Oregon, on November 23, 1953, to George A. and Virginie C. (Caron) Davis. At twelve years old, Sharon moved to Richardton, ND, and lived with her sister Kathleen and brother-in-law Sheldon Fisher, who raised her, alongside Vaunda, Sheleen, Craig, and Shannon. She graduated high school from Sheyanne River Academy in 1972. Sharon earned her teaching degree at Union College in Lincoln, NE, during which time she served as a student missionary to the Marshall Islands for a year.

Sharon’s passion for teaching began at a young age, when she would teach her stuffed animals and her older sister, Diana. She went on to teach and substitute for over thirty years, teaching in North Dakota, Kentucky, and California, and finishing her career in the Richardton-Taylor school district. Her favorite color then became Raider Blue. Sharon loved teaching and creating fun, hands-on projects for her students. She came to life in a classroom. She strove to make her room a safe haven for her students. She had a special place in her heart for those who struggled in any way. She provided food, snacks, and school supplies for any student or individual in need. She always had a classroom pet and was known especially for her fish tank, which is still in use by a fellow teacher. Her passion was teaching, telling stories, and reenacting history, and helping children fall in love with learning. Sharon loved her fellow teachers and students. Her door was always open at home or school to anyone who ever needed it.

Sharon was very active in her church, playing piano, telling children’s stories, and teaching Sabbath School for the children’s department and the adult class, and often found preaching the sermon. She has always been missionary minded and caring for others.

Sharon also had a passion for writing. She published stories and two books early in her career and was in the process of publishing two more books that she wrote in the last year, which will be available soon. She enjoyed playing piano, reading, and crocheting. She loved being at the ocean, camping in the mountains, and especially loved spending time in the Badlands. She loved being with her family, spending time with her children and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and was looking forward to more!

After meeting in college, Sharon married Garry Wolf, a fellow educator. They taught together in Kentucky. They later moved back to Dickinson, ND.

On July 18, 1986, Sharon married Gary Messer of Richardton.  They raised six children together. They had a foster child and a number of foreign exchange students over the years. It was also the home to many college students the children brought home on weekends and long breaks. She raised six children and was also a mother figure to countless others who looked up to her.

Sharon is survived by her husband, Gary Messer; children, Marcy (Pat) Kuntz, Jamen (Becky) Wolf, Heidi Strain, Tony Wolf, Genie Messer, Charlotte (Reed) Merkel; grandchildren, Cade, Coal, Calli, Lydia, Samuel, Jedidiah, Drake, Logan, Lilly, Aurora, Rylee, Canyon, Lincoln; and great-grandchildren, Ella and Darley, her sister, Diana (Earl) Palmer and multiple nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Virginie Davis; sister Kathleen Fisher and brother-in-law Sheldon Fisher; and brothers, Clifford E. Davis, and George R. Davis.

Sharon was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and had a strong faith and love for God. Even in her last days, she showed a selfless love for others, and one of the last things she said was a prayer for her children to stay close to Jesus.

Sharon requested that backpacks with school supplies be brought to the funeral service. These backpacks will be donated to students in need.

Her family will remember her for her love of God and selfless nature.

Among some of the last words she spoke were these verses:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

“Well done good and faithful servant” Matthew 25:21

Our Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Class Dismissed.

We would like to thank the Seventh Day Adventist Dakota Conference for their continued prayers, support and encouragement over the years for our mother and family. We would also like to thank MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Tx, and Sanford Health, Bismarck for the exceptional medical care they have both provided her with over her 9 years of battling cancer.