John West

John ("Jack" to his friends and neighbors) West, 97, of Fergus Falls, died Friday evening, March 16, 2007, at the Broen Memorial Home in Fergus Falls. Memorials to the District #544 Education Foundation in Jack's name are preferred He was born on April 16, 1909 in Webster, North Dakota to John C. and Edith J. West. His father was the superintendent of the school there. The family lived in Barnesville, Minneapolis, Sauk Center and Bemidji, Minnesota. Jack graduated from High School at Bemidji and then from Bemidji State Teacher's College before attending the School of Law at the University of North Dakota, where he received his law degree in 1931. Jack had some brief experience as a Customs Officer on the North Dakota border, and as a statistician for the American Crystal Sugar Company in Grand Forks. He was an editor of a legal manual for North Dakota municipalities. He was associated with Hubert Jeffery, as his partner in a law practice in Grand Forks, before accepting employment with the State of North Dakota. Jack married Charlotte Ruth Hills in Grand Forks, ND on June 15, 1938. They had four sons: Charles, John, James, and Peter. They lived in Grand Forks, Bismarck and Fargo before coming to Fergus Falls in 1944, where he was employed by Otter Tail Power Company as a Tax and Claim Agent and legal assistant. He became their Corporate Secretary in 1958. After 30 years of service with Otter Tail Power Company, he retired in 1974. Jack was a member of the Third and Fourth Degrees of the Knights of Columbus, the Rotary Club (a past President), the Elks Club, and the Eagles Club. He was interested in youth organizations, and served as Cub Master and in leader training activities in the Boy Scouts. He was honored by the award of the "Silver Beaver" and the "Medal of St. George" for his participation in Scouting. Jack was a member of the Fergus Falls Rifle and Pistol Club, and served as the instructor of the Junior Rifle Club and as a certified instructor in the Minnesota Firearms Safety Program. He had a fascination with model aircraft and was the leader of a boy's model club, in the days when model airplanes were powered by rubber bands and later with tiny engines. This led him into the flying of control line models and then the early radio controlled models. With his life long interest in aviation, Jack learned to fly, and soloed when he was fifty. Flying was not only an avocation, but after his retirement from Otter Tail Power, it supplied part-time employment at the Fergus Falls Airport. Also, in his retirement, he served several terms as a City Alderman. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Charlotte in 1994 He is survived by his four sons: Charles (Judie) West of LaCrescent, MN, John (Kathy) West of Checotah, OK, James West of Saint Paul, and Peter West of Fergus Falls: a sister, Caroline Knutson of Sterling Heights, MI, as well as one grandson, six granddaughters and twelve great grandchildren. Services: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 28 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Fergus Falls Prayers: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning at the Church Clergy:     Father Bob Kieffer Interment: St Otto's Cemetery Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls