John Holt

John Gordon Holt, 86, of Fargo, ND, died Wednesday, December 03, 2008, at Bethany Homes, Fargo, ND. John was born September 9, 1922, in Grafton Township, ND, to Elmer and Karen Holt. He grew up on a nearby farmstead and attended schools in Grafton and graduated from high school in 1940. In 1940, John enlisted with the National Guard unit in Grafton. In 1942, he first experienced combat in the Pacific Theater at Guadalcanal. Following that campaign, he volunteered to serve with the famed Merrill’s Marauders behind enemy lines in Burma. After the unit’s evacuation from the Burma campaign, he served as a drill instructor in Texas for the duration of the war. He was discharged in 1945. In addition to his active military service, he spent another two decades in the North Dakota National Guard in Fargo, ultimately earning the rank of Warrant Officer (WO-2). His highest military award was the US Army Bronze Star unit citation for bravery in combat. After the war, John attended Wahpeton State School of Science in 1947-48, where he received an electrician’s certification. Upon graduation, he moved to Fargo and was employed at North Dakota State University into the 1970’s. He married Marjorie Mae Leeland on September 3, 1949, in Fargo. John’s interests included hunting, fishing, horseshoes, VFW and American Legion membership. He had a life long fascination for all things electrical and mechanical, and crafted countless household items of wood and metal. He is survived by his children, sons, Larry (Stephanie) Holt, Napoleon, ND; and Eugene Holt, Roy, UT; daughter, LouAnn (Mike) Zurn, West Fargo, ND; five grandchildren, Dylan, Christopher, Karen, Benjamin and Rebecca; and many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers, Clifford, Ralph, Mike, Elmer Jr. and Frank. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association. ( www.alzmndak.org/ ) A gathering of family and friends will be on Sunday, December 7, 2008, from 2 to 4:00 PM., at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, ND. Burial will be Monday, December 8, 2008, at 2:00 PM, at Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mandan, ND.