John Barton

John Robert Barton, 74, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Thursday, October 22, 2009, at his home.  He was born November 7, 1934, in Harper Woods, Michigan, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Robarts) Barton. He attended St. Paul’s Elementary School in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, and St. Paul High School in Grosse Pointe, graduating in 1952. He attended college at North Dakota State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1957. On August 4, 1956, he married Kathleen Fischer at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fargo, North Dakota. From 1957 to 1965 John was the Scout Executive of Boy Scouts of America in Moorhead, MN. He transferred to the Oak Park, Illinois Scout Council, serving as the Scout Executive for BSA there until 1968. He then transferred to the Annapolis, Maryland BSA office, and in 1970 to the Fergus Falls, Minnesota BSA office, continuing as the Scout Executive until 1973. At that time he became Executive Secretary for the North Central Electric Association in Fergus Falls, retiring in August of 1997.  He was a member of the Fish and Game Club, Kiwanis, Boy Scouts of America, Lions Club, Rotary, and was a 40 years member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. John enjoyed fishing with his grandchildren, camping, traveling, attending his grandchildren’s school events, playing cowboy in North Dakota, and especially spending time with his family and grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents; three sisters: Mary Heels, Bessie Clark, and Pat Romatz; and a brother, Richard Barton. Survivors include his wife, Kathleen Barton of Fergus Falls; six children: Kim (Dave) Graff of Inver Grove Heights, MN, Tracy (Kelly) Mesker of Parkers Prairie, MN, Sandy (Dave) Baldwin of St. Cloud, MN, Mary (Loren) Laugtug of Fergus Falls, Tami (Greg) Worner of Wayne, Nebraska, and Patti (Scott) Opsahl of Lakeville, MN; grandchildren: Adam (Kris) and Drew Mesker, Chris (Ashley), Robert, Maggie (Kip), and Meaghan Baldwin, T. J. (Connie) Fredrickson, Katie, and Kacey Fredrickson and their father, Monte Fredrickson, Jon, Emily and Cate Worner, and Jarod and Jaime Opsahl; a great-granddaughter, Madeline Baldwin; two sisters, Joyce (Ed) Connors of Albuquerque, NM, and Kitty Anderson of Powers Lake, ND; a brother, Joseph Barton of Grosse Pointe, MI; three brothers-in-law: Leroy Fischer, Gene Ladwig, and Howard Fischer, and a sister-in-law, Elsie Fischer. Memorials are preferred to the Fellowship Hall Fund of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Fergus Falls or the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center in Fergus Falls. Visitation: 4-6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home with a 6 p.m. prayer service and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church. Mass of Christian Burial: 11 a.m. Monday, October 26, 2009 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Fergus Falls Clergy:  Father Greg Paffel Interment: St. Otto’s Catholic Cemetery, Fergus Falls Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com