Charles Theodore Bohnet
October 19, 1935 ~ June 9, 2022
Born in:
Sisseton, SD
Resided in:
West Fargo, ND
A livestream of the service will be available below:
Charles T. Bohnet, 86, died on June 9, 2022 in Fargo, ND. He passed away at Essentia Health Hospital due to complications from a recent fall and subsequent surgeries, in addition to congestive heart failure.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 17, 2022 at Boulger Funeral Home, 123 10th Street South, Fargo, ND. Visitation will precede the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. A family-only interment service will take place on June 18, 2022 at Pelican Lake Cemetery in Ashby, MN.
Charles Theodore Bohnet was born in Sisseton, SD on October 19, 1935, the first child of Doris E. (Skaar) of Ashby, MN and Theodore R. Bohnet of New Ulm, MN. He attended grammar school in Fargo and graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1954. He attended North Dakota State University and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. Charles began his working career at Piggly Wiggly Groceries in Moorhead shortly thereafter.
He became a newspaper advertising salesman for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead in 1959. His career with Forum Communications lasted more than six decades, where he served in numerous roles. He was advertising director and general sales manager. He has promoted to general manager in 1977 until 1986 when he joined the board of WDAY, Inc., owned by Forum Communications, as vice president of the company’s broadcast properties. In 1990, Charles returned to Forum Communications’ newspaper division to oversee all newspaper operations. That same year, he was named to the board of Forum Communications where he was an active member until his death. Charles was Executive Vice President of Forum Communications at the time of his retirement in December 1998. He was a member of the Fargo Rotary Club and a past president of the Fargo Chamber of Commerce.
Charles married Regina M. Marczuk of Belfield, ND on July 11,, 1959 in Moorhead, MN, where they made their home until moving to north Fargo, ND in 1970. They were married for 30 years, and had two children, Lisa and Chris.
Charles eventually relocated to a rural property along the shores of Long Lake near Dalton, MN in Otter Tail County. Charles married Jean M. (Weiss) Boe on October 16, 1999 in an outdoor ceremony at their Long Lake home. Jean passed away in 2008.
Charles enjoyed golfing, fishing, and hunting near Ashby and Dalton, MN with his uncle, Harold Skaar. He enjoyed annual fishing and hunting trips to Manitoba, Canada with a core group of friends. He was also an avid collector of Ducks Unlimited prints and hand carved decoys. Charles enjoyed cars, and at one time drove a silver Porsche Boxter. He also restored a relative’s 1940 Ford pickup truck and entered the all-cherry-red street rod into regional car shows. He liked to listen to jazz music, especially instrumentals. Charles was also interested in researching his genealogy, and extensively traced his family history back to Germany and Scandinavia. He was also a ferocious reader and had checked out more than 2,000 books from the Fergus Falls Public Library by January 2019. He most liked to read mysteries and political thrillers.
He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and younger brother Thomas, who passed away in 1990.
Charles is survived by his first wife, Regina Bohnet of Fargo, ND, daughter Lisa and son-in-law Ken Farnham of Fargo, son Christopher Bohnet of Minneapolis, MN, grandson Caleb Farnham and granddaughter Lydia Farnham, both of Fargo, niece Heather Worden of West Fargo, ND, and niece Tania Leevers of Parker, CO.
His children would like to thank those friends, former co-workers, and relatives who visited and corresponded with Charles during the last several years.
Services
Visitation: June 17, 2022 1:00 pm
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street
South Fargo, ND 58103
Memorial: June 17, 2022 2:00 pm
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street
South Fargo, ND 58103
Sending love to all. ❤️
Kaylen, thank you for thinking of us during this time! Dad will be missed and remembered! ❤️ Lisa
Jody, your working relations and friendship over the years meant a lot to Dad. Thank you for attending his service on Friday and spending time visiting with me. Dad will be missed by his family especially, but remembered by many – what a great legacy! ❤️ Lisa
While we all wore old como coveralls, jackets and hats, Charles seemed to always have nice new clothing, or at least that is what it seemed to me as a 8-10-12 year old kid.
I recall Harold and my father trying to figure out how to get Charles to pay for coffee and a donuts at the Dalton Cafe after hunting in the morning. Not sure if they succeeded?? All I know for sure is, I never paid and their were always a lot of laughs in booth…and a line of other local characters stopping by to chat.
Lastly I remember Charles always acknowledge and engaged with me (a kid) in conversation, which he would not have had to do but certainly shows his character.
Thanks for the great memories from Charles
Curt Olsen
Curt, thanks for sharing your recollections of Charles and his fellow Dalton hunters. Smiling to myself about the “nice clothing” and paying for the donuts, but mostly I am proud of dad for engaging with you as a child and not ignoring you.
Curt – thank you so much for sharing your memory of Dad and hunting. We had the pastor read it during Dad’s service. While it brought a few chuckles (welcomed!) it also made us all realize how important and lasting true character is – I hope I live up to Dad’s example in my years ahead! Dad will be missed and remembered by many! ❤️ Lisa
Chuck was a gifted newspaperman, and a prince of a human being. He was one of the very best bosses I ever had in a career of print journalism. He helped me immensely in my many years with Forum Communications and I cherished our correspondence in the years after he retired. My deepest sympathies to his family.
20 June 2022
Monday
Noel –
Thank you for your kind words about my father. As a child one never really “knows” their parent(s) as a individual, as we are always their “child,” and we never get to see them at work or with friends outside of their parental selves.
Thank you!
Christopher
Charles’s son
Noel – thank you for thinking of us during this difficult time. My brother and I have most appreciated hearing about Dad as a businessman, mentor, and friend – because, of course, we only knew him as a parent! Thank you for sharing your memories of him with us. Dad will be missed, but his legacy of character lives on in many! Pay it forward as best you are able! ❤️ Lisa
Lisa and Chris I am so sorry for your loss. My dad, Fay Fisher, was a life long friend of Chuck. Fay would have loved to have given you a big hug and say Hello. They were high school classmates and also Fraternity brothers at Alpha Tau Omega chapter at NDSU. My dad looked forward to their Thursday martini lunches and my parents enjoyed meeting them for dinner at Mable Murphy’s in Fergus Falls.
Julie Fisher-Shorma
Fargo, ND
20 June 2022
Monday
Julie –
Yes, of course I (we) remember your father and mother well – along with you and your brothers Todd and Tom. Your mom and Todd were at the memorial service, which was so wonderful of them and it was great to see them both again after many years. My condolences to you as well on your dad’s passing… Hard no matter the circumstances of a parent’s death.
Thank you for your kind words,
Christopher
Julie – thank you for sharing about Dad and Fay and the rest of the crew. They were/are the best of friends throughout the years! I have memories of walking the Fargo Country Club golf course a few times with the crew as well! (I think there was always more laughter and drinking going on than serious golfing …) Dad and Fay together again is a good image to hold on to!
We had a nice visit with Peggy and Todd before and after Dad’s service which was a great time to reminisce as well. Thank you for taking time to share and think of us during this difficult time as we adjust to life without Dad. He will be missed and remembered by many! ❤️ Lisa
Gary Kaiser
PS Queenie fell and broke Hip, TCU now, also.
20 June 2022
Monday
Gary –
Many fond memories of you and Diane (aka – Queenie) and your boys! I bet their were a LOT of laughs at those “3 Martini Lunches”!! Yes, Fay and Charles are clinking glasses together again.
Best wishes to you and a speedy recovery to Diane.
Christopher
Gary – thanks for thinking of us during this difficult time as we adjust to life without Dad. It helps to have those mental images and memories of him – and the Martini Lunch Crew was certainly part of my growing up lexicon! The lifelong friendship that you all shared is something to aspire to with my own circle of friends. What a legacy that constancy can have for generations that follow! Our best to you and “Queenie” especially for a full and speedy recovery! ❤️ Lisa
Such a good man…. I will miss him and the times we had together.
20 June 2022
Monday
Thank you for your kind words, Duane.
Christopher
Charles’s son
Duane – Thank you for thinking of us during this difficult time. He will be missed by many, and remembered fondly for his friendship! Thanks for sharing his impact on you! ❤️ Lisa
Harlan Lysne of Fergus Falls
20 June 2022
Monday
Harlan –
Dad LOVED that Cherry red pickup!! He had several pictures and a large watercolor of both the truck and him with the truck hanging up in his apartment… Brought a smile to his face often!
Thank you for your kind words about my father.
Christopher
Charles’s son
Harlan – thank you for thinking of us during this difficult time. Dad sure loved that ‘40 Ford pick up truck! I used to tease him that when I inherited it, I was going to turn the front grill back to chrome – and he would shudder and shake his head at me! Dad will be missed by many, but remember for his friendship which is a great legacy to leave and live up to. ❤️ Lisa