John “Jack” E. Beaton

John “Jack” Edward Beaton, Moorhead, MN passed away on April 26, 2017. Jack was born on July 30, 1924 in Lemmon, SD to Charles and Alma Beaton. Jack lived in Lemmon until his family moved to Fargo, ND in June of 1932. He was educated at St. Mary’s school and Sacred Heart Academy in Fargo. When he was 17 years old, he left for California to work as a welder in a Defense plant. He returned to Fargo and enlisted in the Army in 1942. He spent a year in the Infantry and then transferred to the Air Corps now Air Force working as a radar mechanic and flew sea search for German submarines in the Caribbean. He was promoted to Sergeant and when the war ended, was honorably discharged.
Jack married Mary Ann Bares on June 19, 1948 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fargo. They built their home in rural Moorhead, raised five children there, and in 2008 moved into the city limits of Moorhead.

Jack worked for 41 years as a maintenance engineer and construction inspector at the Great Lakes Pipeline, which later became William Brothers’ Pipeline. He retired in 1987. In addition to working at the pipeline, he and his brother Jim, owned and operated four self-service Jack’s Car Washes in the FM area for 17 years.

Jack loved to hunt, fish and was a rock hound with his brother Walt looking for those elusive Montana agates. He loved to travel with family and friends and then at the end of the day like to enjoy, in his words, a “generous portion of brandy.” Jack was an inventor, entrepreneur and a “Jack” of all trades. No…a master of all trades. He could design, build or repair anything. For many years, he and Mary spent winters in Mission, TX with their friends from Moorhead. In 1974, they purchased a portion of the old Fairhaven Resort on Lake Sallie and created a family haven for their children and grandchildren to enjoy the lake for generations to come.

Jack was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and role model. He taught his family the value of hard work and honesty. He was a proud member of the American Legion and once played the drum in the Drum & Bugle Corps band. He also belonged to the Eagles, Disabled American Veterans, was a 3rd and 4th Degree member of the Moorhead Knights of Columbus and has been a member of St. Francis de Sales church of Moorhead for over 65 years.

Jack is survived by his loving wife, Mary Ann; his children Diane Beaton, Fargo; Richard Lonni Beaton, Detroit Lakes; Shelley Ford, Moorhead; Renee Greg Johnson, Glyndon; Joan Chris Lerdahl, Moorhead. Grandchildren Melissa Brandon Sunde, Cave Creek, AZ; Christopher Jessica Ford, Becker, MN; Ryan Brooke Beaton, Ramsey, MN; Jess Stephanie Ford, St. Cloud; Calvin Sarah Johnson, Barnesville; Abby Johnson, Fargo; John Beaton, Duluth; Zachary Lerdahl, Fargo; Brianna and Alexander Lerdahl, Moorhead, and seven great-grandchildren, Jack, Taylor, Grace, William, Aiden, Tanner and Rylen. Brother, Walter June Beaton, Virginia; sisters-in-law Rayleen Beaton, Betty Kamps, and Kathy Bares, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Richard, Eugene, James, Jeannette and Mary Ann; son-in law Robert Ford and great-grandson, Dex Beaton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Moorhead Knights of Columbus, St. Francis de Sales Church and/or Disabled American Veterans.

Visitation will be Monday, from 9 – 11 a.m., followed by the funeral at 11 a.m., in St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Moorhead, MN.

Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Fargo, ND.