John Leet Guy

Although he was a man of few words, John Guy was a man of great wisdom who was purposeful in the things he did and said. He was blessed to share the best years of his life with his true love with whom he experienced so many of the best things that life has to offer. John worked hard and was driven to succeed, yet he also made the time to enjoy life along the way. Equipped with integrity, honor, and sound character, he dutifully served his country during a time of great need. With a life that spanned times of vast change in the world around him, John lived life to the fullest while holding his family and friends close to his heart.Nestled within the colorful decade of the Roaring Twenties was the year 1925 that boasted of numerous noteworthy events. The Chrysler Corporation was founded, Calvin Coolidge was the first President of the United States to have his inaugural address broadcast over the airwaves, and The Great Gatsby was published. This same year was a year to remember in the lives of a young couple from Fargo, North Dakota, as they welcomed a healthy baby boy into their hearts and home on January 4th. John Leet was one of three sons born to his parents, William and Mabel (Leet) Guy, and he was raised alongside his brothers, James and William. Later that year, the family moved to Amenia, North Dakota where John's father managed the 26,000 acre Chafee Estate. Mr. Chafee died on the Titanic and the Chaffee sons managed the ranch until the investors went to the university in search of a reliable young man to manage the holdings. John and his family were given a tough pill to swallow when his father died in 1942.In many ways John experienced an upbringing that was a reflection of the times. He attended local schools where he was the center on his high school basketball team. John developed a love for photography during his formative years and even developed his own pictures in his dark room at home.With the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, America was forever changed. John served in the United States Navy from 1944 through much of 1946. He boarded a merchant vessel in New York, sailing through the Panama Canal and on to Hawaii. Once in Hawaii, the ship's crew assembled the landing craft tank (LCT) from the three parts they brought with them from New York and then sailed to Guam, where John served one year on the LCT.When his military duties were fulfilled, John was ready to embark on the next exciting path that life had in store. He enrolled at Iowa State University and received a degree in agriculture economics. Not to be forgotten during his college years was his introduction to the woman with whom he would share the best years of his life. Her name was Ruth Torine, and they met on a blind date on February 7, 1948. It was just a few days later, on Valentine's Day that year, that John told Ruth, "You hit me like a ton of TNT!" On May 2nd he gave her his fraternity pin, and Ruth transferred to Iowa State to be near John just a short time later. With a desire to build a life together the sweethearts were married on December 18, 1948, in Indianola, Iowa.With his education behind him, John spent a few years teaching veterans agriculture in Sibley Iowa, but he then realized that teaching was not a good fit as his heart was truly in farming. Ruth worked as well, and they saved everything they could and bought a farm in Dexter, Minnesota, in 1953, where they farrowed and raised hogs. John designed and built a huge hog house operation.In May of 1963, John earned his private pilot's license, which was no easy feat as he signed up for the classes on Washington's birthday, Feb 22nd of that year, and tirelessly studied in order to pass his test within just three months. Sadly, construction on I-90 soon began, taking a part of their Dexter farm in the process. Because utility lines were built nearby, the danger of flying to and from their land became too great.It was his love for flying that sent John and Ruth searching for a farm to purchase that would be more suitable for a landing strip. In 1968 they located the Dyar farm, south of St. Charles, and they knew immediately that this would be their new home. John set to work constructing that landing strip shortly after they moved. Flying was not John's only passion as he was a man of many interests. He loved being with friends, and two of his closest friends, Dr. John Condie and Don Brown, were lifelong friends as they met when John was growing up in Amenia. When entertaining, he much preferred taking his guests out for an evening flight rather than engage in after dinner conversation. In 1998, John sold his plane and bought an RV instead. Together he and Ruth explored several states in addition to countless miles throughout Southern Canada. For six years John and his wife wintered in Florida, the trip down usually included a stop in Branson, Missouri. While in Florida they loved visiting the Everglades in search of tree snails as they both loved the adventure of looking for their colorful rings. In 1990, John and Ruth moved to Rochester, where he was a member of First Presbyterian Church. Because he began struggling with health issues, they sold the RV in 2003 since he was no longer able to travel.As his family and friends can attest, John was a simple and quiet man by nature who weighed his words carefully. He enjoyed people, but not crowds, although he did set his aversion to crowds aside to support his brother, Bill, for his four inaugurations as he was sworn in as the governor of North Dakota. John had an excellent command of the English language and was known to catch and even correct the errors on television reports! He was kindhearted and ever mindful of others since even as Alzheimer's disease began clouding his mind a bit he continued to help with the housework. John enjoyed keeping his mind sharp and still completed crossword puzzles as recently as May 16th.An extraordinary man to know and love, John Guy was a blessing to those around him. Many will agree with his wife Ruth who said, "He added so much to my life." He has been described as a thoughtful planner, an organizer, and even a perfectionist who liked things just so. John will be deeply missed and forever remembered.John Leet Guy, of Rochester, died Thursday, May 15th at Stewartville Care Center. John's family includes his wife Ruth; five nieces and nephews, William (Marilyn) Guy III of Fargo, James (Jane) of Amenia, ND, Deborah Igo of Bismark, ND, Holly (Dale) Mossberg of New London, MN, and Nancy Guy (Greg) Stites of Bismark, ND. John was preceded in death by his parents and his two brothers, James and William. A Service to Celebrate John's life will be 11 a.m. Saturday, May 24th at Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service in St. Charles with the Rev. Carol Shafer, Seasons Hospice Chaplain presiding. A reception will follow at the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date at Riverside Cemetery in Fargo. Friends may call at the funeral home, from 10 a.m. until time of services. Please share a memory of John at his on-line guestbook and view his Tribute Video, when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com. Memorials are preferred to Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Research at 200 1st Street, SW, Rochester, MN 55892, First Presbyterian Church of Rochester or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/494490