Theodore "Forrest" Jennings, 89, of Hettinger, ND passed away at the Western Horizons Care Center in Hettinger, ND on February 20, 2009.


Funeral services will be held Monday, February 23, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Congregational Church United Church of Christ in Hettinger, ND. Rev. Jim Moos will officiate and Military Honors afforded by the Johnson-Melary American Legion Post #115 of Hettinger. Visitations will be from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday morning. A gathering of family and friends will be at 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening at the Funeral Home.


"Forrest" as he was known to everyone, was born on July 25th 1919 at Redfield, South Dakota. He attended grade school at a rural country school and graduated from High School in Lemmon, South Dakota in 1935. He grew up a farm in northern Adams County. As a young boy he loved to 'hitch' a ride on the county motor grader as it passed by the farm. As a young lad, he was very involved in 4-H. He participated and won several state contests in livestock judging. In 1940 he served as the state president of 4-H.


After high school he worked for the State AAA Farm Program, measuring fields and surveying farms across North Dakota. Surveying was something that he loved to do and was one of his many "self-taught' skills.


On March 15th 1942 he married Mildred Davison, his bride for the next 67 years. Three months later he was inducted in the Army to fight in WWII. He was stationed for two year in New Guinea and the Philippines in the 163rd Ordnance Division. It was here that he honed his mechanical skills and acquired his love of equipment and construction.


In 1946 he was honorably discharged from the Army. He arrived back in Adams County to meet his 'almost 2 year old' daughter that he had never seen. For a couple years he farmed, sprayed weeds, and even operated a snow plow for Adams County.


In September 1949 he started building his home. He sawed every board, pounded every nail and painted every inch of the 'flat topped' red house on the hill.


In 1960 he bought Hettinger Construction Company which he owned and operated for 11 years. In 1971 he sold his equipment to Adams County and went to work for them until he was 74 years old.


Throughout his professional career, he was always involved in the community. He was a charter member of the Hettinger Toastmasters Club and attended meetings for 50 years. Many times he gave a speech that he had written on the back of an envelope while out on the construction job. He had a passion for the hospital. He wanted to live long enough to see the new addition. He served on the hospital board and was the first chairman of the Hospital Foundation Board. In 1983 he was awarded the County Road Superintendent of the Year for North Dakota and in 1993 was inducted into the Hall of Honor for North Dakota State County Officers. In 1993 he was appointed by Governor Shafer to the North Dakota State Health Task Force. He was a long time Mason and Shriner and member of the Congregational Church.


In 1989 he undertook an almost impossible task of finding his army buddies from 45 years earlier and organizing the first reunion of his company. He and Mildred spent countless nights (pre-internet) on the telephone calling phone numbers that were over 40 years old. But successful he was, and later that year he hosted the first reunion. He continued to host the reunions for his army buddies for the next 10 years.


For his 80th birthday, his children donated $1000 in his name to start a scholarship fund for young engineers in the state. He promptly matched the donation and was very proud to give back to his profession. Today that fund has grown to over $70,000.


He loved to garden. A drive by the red house on the hill is a testament to his love and skill. The big oak tree in the front yard that he started from an acorn still stands. He carried his shovel and pruner to the Western Horizons Assisted Living Center, to the Congregational Church and to countless other yards around town.


In the last years of his life, he could be found shooting the bull with the guys at Peppy's. He will be missed by all who knew him and by those whose lives he touched.


He is survived by his wife, Mildred, Hettinger; their children, Linda (Roger) Hanshew, Belgrade, MT, Lynn (Judy) Jennings, Longwood, FL, Jon (Karen) Jennings, Bismarck, ND and Nancy (John) Brown, Fargo, ND, nine grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and one sister, Doris Heglin, Denver, CO and a special friend Connie Walch who gave him rides to coffee every day when he could no longer drive. Forrest was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and an infant brother.


He would have appreciated that any memorials be given to:
West River Health Services, 1000 Hwy 12, Hettinger, North Dakota 58639 or
NDACE Scholarship Fund - PO Box 877 - Bismarck, ND 58502-0877