“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” Matthew 11:28. Jack Formo, 84, Litchville, ND, was granted his final retirement and eternal rest on May 22, 2022. A private family service will be held on Wednesday, May 25.
A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 pm on May 25, 2022, at the Litchville Community Center, Litchville, ND. All are invited to come and celebrate Jack’s life.
Burial will be at the Bethlehem Cemetery, rural Litchville.
John Henry Formo was born to Axel and Jennie (Van Bruggen) Formo on June 11, 1937. He was raised on the land he farmed and loved, just outside of Litchville. He graduated from Litchville High School and studied accounting at North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton. It was during his time at Wahpeton that he was drafted into the service and eventually granted Honorable Discharge from both the Army National Guard and Air National Guard.
Jack loved the Lord. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Litchville and served on the church council for many years. No matter how busy life was, Sundays were reserved for Jesus and rest. Though his journey through life had become difficult, he thanked Jesus for all the blessings he had been given.
Jack was kind, honest, a hard worker and lifelong learner, qualities he passed on to his children and grandchildren. Farming was his passion and he kept up to date with all the changes that came with farming, harvesting his last crop in the Fall of 2021 at the age of 84. Prior to settling into farming full-time he worked at Bobcat in Gwinner and for the Office of Engrossing and Enrolling at the North Dakota State Capitol. He was proud of farming, his family and community serving on many boards, including Bethlehem Cemetery, Litchville and Litchville/Marion School Boards, Barnes County Consortium Board, Anheuser-Busch Barley Board and Texas A&M Advisory Board for Agriculture.
It was while he was working at the State Capitol that he met the love of his life, Dianna Wetzel. They were married on November 11, 1961, and resided on the farm outside of Litchville, where they nurtured the land and their children, Mark, and Teresa.
Although he worked hard, he enjoyed life and attending family activities, playing basketball, fishing, hunting, and bowling. He earned many awards for his accomplishments including numerous bowling awards, NDSU Outstanding Agriculturist for Barnes County, recipient of the 40,000 Case IH Tractor, and Anheuser-Busch Longest Growing Member. He was also recognized for working for the National Weather Service, providing weather reports since 1984, continuing until his passing. He enjoyed visiting and a good conversation. He was often heard starting a conversation with a stranger with “Where are you from?” He especially took an interest in learning about his grandkids and their lives, often discussing politics, current events, finances, hunting and the weather with them. He also loved animals and had an uncanny ability to connect with them.
Jack will be missed by his loving wife of 60 years, Dianna; his son, Mark (Emily) Formo, Litchville, Mark’s sons, Dillon, Austin, and Davis Formo along with Emily’s daughter’s, Taylor Carlblom, Kenzi and Kacey Peterson; his daughter, Teresa (Shawn) Formo-McDonald, Spiritwood, Teresa’s children, Lee (Bradi) Trapp and Jesse (Cody) Sailer; great-grandchildren Saraya Formo, Maxwell, and Isla Sailer; his beloved brother and farming partner Lawrence (Karen) Formo and sister-in-law Jane Junkert; and many nephews, nieces, and friends.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents; Dianna’s parents, Ruebin and Alvina; brother-in-law, Walter Junkert; and Great Grandson Joshua Sailer.
A private funeral service will be held Wednesday, May 25 at First Lutheran Church, Litchville followed by a Celebration of Life at 3:00 pm at the Litchville Community Center where everyone is invited to celebrate Jack’s life.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City. An online guestbook is available at olivernathanchapel.com