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Kay (Ferguson) Forkner

Kay Louise Forkner, 83, passed away peacefully Saturday, January 11th, 2025, at her Lyngblomsten apartment, from the effects of ALS. She was surrounded by family.

Kay was born in 1941 in Hillsboro, North Dakota., to C. Lynn and Clara Bagstad Ferguson. She graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1959. In 1963, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College, Moorhead, and graduated with highest honors.

During her childhood, she received violin lessons at UND in Grand Forks where she occasionally saw a young man named Mark Forkner who was also taking music lessons. After becoming reacquainted at Concordia they married in 1961 and celebrated 60 years of marriage before Mark’s passing. They had two children, Lori and Kent.

Kay was a violinist who delighted in sharing her music with others, beginning with solo concerts while she was still in elementary school. In high school, she joined the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony and continued to be a member for 50 years. In addition, she was a church musician and choir member at Calvary United Methodist (Calvary Fargo) throughout her adult life.  While she studied as a classical violinist, she will be best remembered for the beautiful hymn arrangements she played accompanied by her favorite pianist, Mark.

Sharing her musical talents with young people was important to Kay as well. She taught beginning orchestra students in the Fargo Public Schools from 1976 until her retirement in 2002. She taught private lessons as well for many years.

Kay’s Christian faith was an essential part of her life. She participated in Bible Study Fellowship and found many opportunities to serve others through her church and community. Her faith sustained her through her illness and was a constant source of comfort.

Her hobbies included reading, gardening, baking, and being a wonderful mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Kay enjoyed being active in the community of Fargo as a faithful P.E.O. member, a Bison supporter, and in many other ways. She particularly enjoyed hosting friends and family in her home and was especially known for her excellent pies!

Kay is survived by her children, Lori and Roger Fredlund (Lino Lakes, MN) and Kent and Lisa Forkner (Hingham, MA); her grandchildren, Kaylea (Siddharth) Menon, Lydia (Mike) Golis, Erica (Matt) Hillstrom, Daniel (Lauren) Forkner and Bennett Forkner; her great-grandchildren, Franklin Golis, Eve Golis, and Kinara Menon; her sister-in-laws, Rosalee Forkner and Susan Gill and her brother-in-law, Zack Gill; and numerous nephews and nieces all of whom she loved very much. Her husband, Mark, her sister, Sharon Gunderson, her brother-in-law Earl Forkner, and her nephew, Jeremy Gill, preceded her in death.

Her family and dear friends gave her much joy.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 15th,  at 1:00 pm at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral home in Fargo, North Dakota with a memorial service at 2:00.  A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 on Monday, February 17th at Living Waters Lutheran Church in Lino Lakes, Minnesota, with time to visit with family an hour before the service.

Memorial gifts may be made to Calvary Fargo, the FM Symphony, or the Lyngblomsten Foundation.