John Alsop

john alsop
John Alsop, age 91, died peacefully on Saturday, November 1, 2003, at Bethany Homes in Fargo, North Dakota. He was born on June 11, 1912, to Harry Theodore and Lillian (Fuller) Alsop, in Fargo. John graduated from Fargo Central High School and from the University of North Dakota. Early in his career he worked in Idaho, learning the lumber business in preparation for joining his father in business. While in Idaho he met his future bride, Elizabeth Louise Lyle. John and Louise were married in 1939 and enjoyed 59 years of marriage. They had two children, John Richard and Mary Elizabeth. John and Louise enjoyed a happy life together. They spent weekends during the summer at the family lake cottage on Big Detroit Lake. His favorite activity was sailing and the whole family spent many happy hours on their ?D? sailboat. John also loved to play golf and was a member of the same foursome at the Fargo Country Club for nearly 50 years. He was especially proud of his hole-in-one in 1983. John and Louise enjoyed traveling and visited such far flung countries as New Zealand and South Africa. While in New Zealand they visited Joan Percy Baas and her family. Joan lived with the Alsops as a AFS student while at Central High School in 1960-61. In their later years John and Louise spent winters in Weslaco, Texas, and Sun City, Arizona. John was involved in the lumber industry for his entire career. He joined Interior Lumber and Fuel Co. in 1937 and succeeded his father as president in 1948. He was involved in many activities connected with the lumber business. He served as treasurer of the North Dakota Lumber Retailers Association from 1939 until 1946 and was a director of Reserve Supply for many years. He was named Outstanding Retail Lumberman of the Year in 1975. John was also involved in many community activities. He was a member of Kiwanis for over 60 years, and was a Mason and Shriner for many years. He served as president of the Fargo Chamber of Commerce, president of the Fargo Planning Commission and president of the Fargo Industrial Development Corporation, and was a director of First National Bank for nearly 15 years. He headed the American Field Service (student exchange program) for many years and was president of Children?s Village for 3 terms. John was a lifelong and active member of Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral in Fargo. The church was very important to him and he held many positions in the church locally and statewide. John is survived by his son, Richard (Rene?e) and grandsons, James and Andrew of Fargo; daughter, Mary (Fianc? Gerald Jorgenson) of Minneapolis and grandsons, John (Lana) Adair of San Francisco and Charles (Marissa) Adair of Minneapolis. John was happy to welcome his great grandson, Graham George Adair, son of John and Lana, just one month before he died. He is also survived by a niece, Elizabeth Evangelista of Lansing, MI and a nephew, Donald (Dorothy) Wheeler of Edinboro, PA. John was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his two sisters, Elizabeth Alsop and Margaret Wheeler. The Memorial Service will be held 2 PM Tuesday, November 4, 2003, at Gethsemane Cathedral in Fargo. Interment will be held in Riverside Cemetery in Fargo. The family prefers memorials to Gethsemane Cathedral, Hospice of the Red River Valley, or to an organization of choice. Online guest book at www.boulgerfuneralhome.com (Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo)

View current weather.

Memories Timeline


Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle

Accessibility Tools
hide