Mary Ann Forness of Minot, formerly of Surrey and Carpio, ended her earthly journey on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at a Minot hospital. She was born on January 3, 1927, the oldest child of Edmund and Augusta (Dalebout) VanHove near Noonan, ND. She attended rural elementary schools and graduated with the Mohall High School Class of 1945.

Mary married Johnny Forness on April 19, 1947 in the parlor of the parsonage of First Lutheran Church in Minot. They were the parents of four daughters. Johnny farmed in Callahan Township, Renville County north of Carpio, while Mary was a busy stay-at-home mother, gardening, tending the chickens and managing the household chores without the luxury of indoor plumbing. In the 1960's and 70's she was active in Renville County 4-H, serving as the founder and leader of the Callahan Cloverettes 4-H Club and also judging 4-H sewing entries in the Renville County Fair. She was also an active member of the Callahan Brighter Hope Homemakers Club and Carpio Lutheran Church where she served in various capacities with the Ladies' Aid, in Bible Circle, and as a long-time Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher.

In 1972 she began a 17-year career as a restaurant cook. She worked at the Mohall American Legion Club. When Johnny retired from farming in 1978 they moved to Surrey, ND and she worked at the Eagles Club in Minot and later at the Minot Country Club and Northern Livestock Auction Caf. She retired in 1989. Since moving to Surrey, Mary has been an active member of Hope Lutheran Church, their Women of the ELCA group and Bible Circle.

Johnny died in 1989 and Mary moved to Minot to reside in the Milton Young Tower in 1992, where she remained, living independently until she passed. Mary was a long-time president of the MYT Tenants' Association until her failing eyesight made it too difficult to serve in that capacity. Mary embraced the community of tenants at Milton Young Tower and enjoyed the activities and fellowship offered there.

Mary was a woman of unwavering faith. Even with extreme low vision she practiced daily devotions and prayer. Her most prized possession was her loving family. She cherished time spent with family, especially for holiday celebrations. She modeled love and grace to all, and accepted each person into the family, whether it was a new partner or spouse, or a friend who was away from their own family. She was loved and will be missed by all who knew her.

Mary's family includes daughters Linda (Vern) Emerson, Verla (Jim) Rostad, Marlys (Todd) Magnuson and son-in-law Curt (Wanda) Schall; grandchildren Lynn (Steve Filler) Lepper, Tina (Dave) Hanson, Michael (Becca) Schall, Tony Emerson, Chris (Jen) Emerson, Jackie (Steve) Lawson, Andi (Alecia) Rostad, Sarah (Daren) Seney and Trevor Magnuson; great-grandchildren Jason and Jenna Hurt, Rachel Lepper, Baylee and Reed Hanson, Noah Schall, Owen Emerson, Juniper, Jasper and Medora Rostad; great-great grandchild Rene' Hurt; brother, Carl VanHove, and several nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Johnny, daughter Jenice Schall, her parents, brother Harry Van Hove, sister Julianna Van Hove and an infant brother; in-laws, Gail (Arneson) VanHove, Arthur Forness, Carmie and Gertie (Forness) Nelson, Englof Forness, Myrtle (Forness) Mace, Arthur and Alma (Forness) Anderson, nephew Dean Mace and niece Marlene (Nelson) Craig.

Celebration of the Life of Mary Forness: Monday, July 30, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in Hope Lutheran Church, Surrey.
Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot.
Visitation: Sunday, July 29, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials are preferred to Hope Lutheran Church, Surrey or an organization of the donor's choice.