Lloyd M. Forness

Lloyd Marvin Forness was born May 17, 1926, in Fargo, North Dakota to Albert & Bertine Forness.

First born son to Norwegian American parents as fate would have it he was born on Syttende Mai Norwegian Constitution Day! He cherished the memories of his childhood, his 5 siblings and large extended family growing up in Fargo. He was immensely proud of his Norwegian and American family story and loved attending family gatherings and family reunions.

He and attended grade school at Horace Mann and Roosevelt Elementary schools and graduated from Fargo High School in1943. Lloyd worked with his father and brother Palmer at the Fargo Clinic, and as a soda jerk at the Service Drug on Broadway.

Lloyd served in the US Navy from 1944 to 1946, as a Signal Man, in the Pacific theater during World War II.  Some of his favorite memories while in the Navy was building ships as a welder in San Francisco and being stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii. Lloyd was very proud of his service and the service many other family members gave to their new country.

Upon returning home Lloyd attended school on the GI bill at North Dakota State University and graduated from Agricultural College in 1950. While attending school he participated on several fast pitch softball teams1954 for Hektner Insurance.

Lloyd loved playing cards and Cribbage with his father and other family members, and many a great competition ended up in a wrestling match for the ultimate champion. Laughter, good food and great company were the family times that he treasured.

Music was one of Lloyds favorite things in the world and throughout his life music was a daily habit. From a young age Lloyd enjoyed music of all kinds he was a singer, violinist and harmonica player. Lloyd also took dance classes and wowed the ladies with his skillful dance steps. He and his wife Ramona enjoyed many an evening burning up the dance floor.

From 1950 to 1954 Lloyd was the secretary of ND Poultry Improvement Board in Bismarck, North Dakota.

 In 1955 his sister Charlotte and brother-in-law Herman Egeberg were working on a matchmaking scheme to introduce Lloyd to an OB nurse who had just assisted them in bringing their second son into the world, Miss Ramona Johnson. Ramona and Lloyd began letter writing, which then turned into long drives from Fargo to Minneapolis, MN for some in person courting, and one year later on  May 26, 1956 Lloyd married Ramona Johnson, of Thief River Falls, MN. Ramona was the love of his life they were married for 63 years and had 4 children.

Lloyd and Ramona moved to Fargo ND where Lloyd worked as a Poultry Marketing Agent at NDSU Extension Service in Fargo from 1954 to 1958 and Ramona worked at the Fargo Clinic as an RN.

In 1958, Lloyd joined the Nokota Hatchery and Feeds in Devils Lake, ND. Lloyd worked hard at the Hatchery and enjoyed his experiences there.

In 1958 their first daughter Kimberly was born in Fargo. Three of their children were born in Devils Lake. In 1959 Katheryn was born and passed away. In 1961 came their son Stephen and in 1962 a daughter Stephanie.

While living in Devils Lake Lloyd, with his commitment to American democratic government, became involved in the Democratic Party. He was a student of the constitution and had strong belief in equality for all in the workplace, in relationships and fair judicial process. He was a member of the Humanist Society and believed strongly in separation of church and state. He was a voracious reader of many a topic nonfiction, his favorite was the love of nature, American History, World History, political readings of all kinds, astronomy, religious studies and the Bible and other religious writings. Lloyd loved vigorous conversation that challenged ones thinking and got folks to “consider something new!”

In the 1967 Lloyd and Ramona moved to Grand Forks North Dakota where Lloyd became the general manager of the Grand Forks office with Equitable Life. He built a fine living for his family and loved the challenges of management and the life insurance industry. Lloyd and Ramona purchased a beautiful home on Letnes Drive and spent 52 years enjoying their home family and wonderful neighbors.

Lloyd, like his father Albert, loved to garden. He created a sanctuary of beauty in his front yard and backyard. Many a family member and neighbor found themselves enjoying the beauty around them while being served up a great homemade meal. Visitors where gifted with flowers from the garden.

Lloyd loved the competition of a good game and often schooled his opponents in pool, cards, crib, ping pong, board games and darts. Neighbors prepared for “game on!” at pool, and all of his children  learned to keep their eyes open lest a ping pong ball bounced off their forehead! Ha!

Lloyd loved his grandchildren, and opening his family arms to “Adopted-to-the-heart” family like Nona Ramirez, Noelani Manibog Chun and Cody Vares. Lloyd loved being a Reading Grandpa at the elementary schools throughout Grand Forks.

He treasured his life at 804 Letnes Drive, Grand Forks, ND with his family and most proudly with his wife Ramona. He repeatedly said how happy he was in his corner of the world with his great neighbors and friends. A few years ago while walking with his daughter he stopped and looked at the house and said, “Look at this, its more than I could have ever hoped for; this place, Ramona and you kids all doing well with your spouses and lives. It is good, it is real, real good.”

Lloyd passed away on April 5^th, 2020 at Valley Memorial Home in Grand Forks North Dakota. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Bertina Forness, his daughter Katheryn and his brother in-laws Herman Egeberg, Bob Leiseth, Ted Johnston and his brother Palmer Forness.

Lloyd is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ramona Forness, and their three children, Kimberly (Jib) Wilson, Grand Forks, ND, Stephen (Misty) Forness, MN, and Stephanie (Dan) Forness, Lindstrom, MN; three grandchildren, Matthew Ikaika Wilson, Collin and Cayden Knode; one brother, David Forness  and three sisters, Charlotte Egeberg, Esther Johnston, and Becky Dopkins; Sister -in -law Marilyn Leiseth and many nieces and nephews and extended family.

Celebration of Life is at the family home of Kim, Jib and Ramona at 4919 Belmont Road, Grand Forks North Dakota on September 19^th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. At Lloyds request the event is casual with good food and good conversation. Please join us.

Questions about the event; Kim 701-330-3072.

Online: Lloyd Marvin Forness Celebration of Life www.facebook.com/events/1961587583999884

In lieu of memorial gifts to the family, and to honor their father's memory and his heart's desire to "make a difference,” Lloyd was a helper and believed in service to others, the family asks that everyone simply consider doing an act of kindness and to make a positive difference in their family, place of work, neighborhood, community, for Mother Nature and for the world!  Thank you and Teusen Takk!