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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) The estate of Leonard and Marjorie Wright donated .5 million dollars to the Mercy Hospital Foundation last year just before Christmas. Hospital Foundation President Dawn Mathias says this gift will allow Mercy Hospital to improve patient care for years to come.

Hospital board of directors president Mark Oberlander says this gift has energized the foundation, the board and the staff at the hospital. He says long overdue upgrades are now possible thanks to this generous gift.

Valley City State University also received $2.5 million dollars from the family’s estate last year.

Leonard Wright’s nephew Phil Mueller played a role in guiding the gift to the hospital and the university.

The Wrights were born and raised in Barnes County and made their fortune in the construction industry as the Alaska pipeline was being built.

Leonard Wright was raised near Wimbledon; he passed away in 2007 and Majorie was raised near Dazey, she died in April of 2013.