John Henry "Jack" Hoeven Jr., 87, Chairman of the Board of Directors of First Western Bank and longtime community leader died on Saturday, August 19, 2017 in his home surrounded by his loving family.

John Henry Hoeven Jr., or Jack as he was affectionately known by family and friends, was born on December 22, 1929 in Aberdeen, SD to John Henry and Muriel (Milligan) Hoeven. He was raised and educated there and on a farm and ranch near Aberdeen which the family owned and operated. He attended school in Aberdeen and graduated from Aberdeen High School where he was an outstanding basketball player for the Eagles and played American Legion baseball. He continued his education at Dartmouth University in Hanover, NH and graduated in 1952 with a degree in history. It was here that he met Patricia "Trish" Chapman a graduate of Stanford University who was working in New York City at the time. They were married on February 28, 1953 in Great Falls, MT.

Following his graduation from Dartmouth he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in June of 1952 and served until his honorable discharge as a First Lieutenant in May of 1955. He received a Letter of Commendation in Hawaii in 1954. Following his discharge, he was a student at the University of Montana School of Law prior to graduating from the LaSalle School of Law by correspondence. He was employed at the Western Montana National Bank of Missoula prior to accepting a position with First National Bank in Bismarck. The family moved to Ashley, ND in 1963 when he began employment with the McIntosh County Bank and to Minot in 1964 where Jack was employed by Union National Bank eventually as the President of the bank. Trish died on March 18, 1979.

In December of 1969, Jack along with family and several community members purchased First Western Bank. This began a lifelong love affair between Jack and the members of the community and the employees of the bank. He truly believed in the "MAGIC" of Minot. In addition to his responsibilities as President and Chairman of the Board of First Western he was very active in the Minot community. He was very proud of his involvement in Bishop Ryan High School, Minot State University, Minot Country Club, Wee Links Golf Course and Hoeven Baseball Complex.

Jack was very active with the Independent Community Banks Association, Prairie Public Television, Minot Housing Authority, Salvation Army, Chamber of Commerce, Minot Air Force Association, Minot Area Development Corporation, ND Bankers Association, North Dakota Golf Association, Norsk Hostfest, Boy Scout Council of the Great Plains Area, Theodore Roosevelt Foundation, Ninth District Federal Reserve Board, Schafer Institute at the University of Mary, State Board of Higher Education Chairman, ND Work Force Development and Training Committee and Dartmouth National Enrollment Committeeman and Class Agent.

From a political perspective, Jack was a former Vice Chairman of the ND State Republican Party, Republican Precinct Committeeman, Chairman of the Fifth District Republicans, served on the State Executive Committee of the Republican Party and as Treasurer of the Kleppe Committee for Congress, was the chairman and originator of the Minot R-100 Club and was a Presidential Appointee to the White House Conference on Aging in 1971 and Chairman of the Richard Nixon Appearance Committee when he came to Minot in 1966.

Also, he was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Shrine Organization, Phi Delta Theta Alumni Club, American Legion, VFW, Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, Sertoma Club, Minot Y's Men, Junior Chamber of Commerce, Minot Jaycees and Elks Lodge. He was especially proud to be a supportive employer of people who were also very active in the community. He was elected "Boss of the Year" for the Minot Community. He was elected to the North Dakota Golf Hall of Fame and the Minot Baseball Hall of Fame for his involvement in the semi pro baseball teams of Minot and Bismarck and his steadfast support of the First Western Bank Fast Pitch Softball teams that participated in national tournaments. Jack married Raziye Yusuf in June of 1984. They made their home in Minot. Raziye died on August 17, 2017.

Jack's loving family includes his children: Becky Elder of Minot, U.S. Senator John (Mikey) Hoeven of Bismarck and Washington D.C. and Marjorie Sarah Hoeven of Westminster, CA; grandchildren: Matt Elder and Alesha (Chris) Bailey; Austin (Carole) Duffis and Adam Duffis; Marcela (Matthew) Samson, Jack (Kelly) Hoeven; great grandchildren: Torin Elder; Kira and Deacon Bailey; Crew, Jax, Nash, and Kip Samson; brother: Dick Hoeven of San Jose, CA; sister: Joan Bolen of Bend, OR; sister-in-law: Evie Aurterburn of Fort Collins, CO and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, two wives and siblings: Jim and William.

Celebration of the Life of Jack Hoeven: Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in Cornerstone Presbyterian Church - Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park - Minot.
Visitation: Monday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the Trish Hoeven Scholarship Fund at Bishop Ryan High School, Minot State University or Cornerstone Presbyterian Church.