Mary Joan "Judy" Fort

Mary Joan “Judy” (Ross) Fort, 83, of Deerwood, MN, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at Abbott Northwest Hospital in Minneapolis, MN surrounded by her family.  Born in Jamestown, ND the daughter of Willis and Beatrice (Witham) Ross, she was raised in Brainerd, MN.  After graduating from Washington High School as co-salutatorian, she graduated from Brainerd Junior College in 1954 and the University of Minnesota in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree in distributive education.

On July 21, 1956 Judy married Albert Fort, the love of her life. She worked part-time as an English teacher in the Crosby-Ironton school district. She was a loving wife and a wise mother who loved spending time with her family, reminding them often that they “were her favorite people to party with.” Judy was member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Crosby, MN. She served as a lay minister and as treasurer on finance committee. She directed religious education and led bible studies. She loved planting her flower gardens and also was an avid reader of classics and mysteries. After raising six children, Judy fulfilled an educational goal and received a Master’s Degree in Psychology of the Aging from the College of St. Scholastica in 1991.

Judy is survived by her husband of 61 years, Albert “Huts” Fort; her six children, Jennifer Fort-Strietzel (Mark), Stephanie Fort-Medlin (Patrick), Elizabeth Fort-Missaghi (Soheyl), Cynthia Fort, Sarah Fort Kramer (Russ), and Matthew Fort (Katie); her twelve grandchildren, Max and Mercedes Medlin; Daniel, Sophia, and Farah Missaghi; Sam Reis; Joseph, Ava, Julia, and Olivia Kramer; Jacob and Natalie Fort. She also leaves behind many close friends and family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Willis and Beatrice Ross.

A Memorial Mass will be held 11:00 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Crosby.  Burial will be at the Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby.  A visitation will be held on Tuesday at the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. and also one hour prior to the services at the church on Wednesday.