John E. Ault

John "Jack" Edward Ault, 77 of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, died on Friday, September 2, 2011, surrounded by his loving family and under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley. John Edward Ault, the son of Robert and Dorothy (Vice) Ault, was born on December 24, 1933, on the family farm in rural Davenport, North Dakota. He was educated in Detroit Lakes, graduating from Detroit Lakes High School in 1951. While working for the Department of Transportation (MNDOT) Jack continued his education through the Massachusetts Correspondence School, receiving a Certificate in Engineering. On April 12, 1958, Jack was married to Mary Pierce at Oak Grove Congregational Church in rural Verndale, Minnesota. They were married for fifty-three years. Jack worked for a short period of time as a lineman with Bell Telephone. In 1954, he began working for the Minnesota Department of Transportation as a surveyor and inspector in Ortonville, Minnesota. He then worked for MNDOT in Morris, Minnesota for twelve years and retired from the Highway Dept. in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota in 1991. Jack was baptized in rural Davenport, North Dakota. He held membership at the Federated Church in Morris and the Congregational Church in Detroit Lakes, serving as Moderator, Usher and Deacon. Jack was a 4-H leader and started the 4-H softball league in Becker County. He had many interests: reading, fishing, sports (Vikings and Twins fan), walking, playing city league softball, was an avid card and cribbage player. Most of all Jack loved spending time with his family. Jack is survived by his wife, Mary Ault of Detroit Lakes, MN; three sons, Todd Ault of St. Cloud, MN; Barry (Kathryn) Ault of Cumberland, WI; Kyle (Mary) Ault of Two Harbors, MN; six grandchildren, Jade, Jack and Kannon Ault, Colin DeLong, Trevor (Kelly) DeLong, Kendra (John) Peterson; one great-grandchild, Maxwell Peterson and one on the way; two sisters, Carol Lewis of Hawley, MN; Marian Ohman of Detroit Lakes, MN; one brother, Jim (Mavis) Ault of Hopkins, MN; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. Jack was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Dorothy Ault and his brother Robert and his sister Joann Wolden.   In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Congregational Church (900 Lake Ave. Detroit Lakes, MN 56501) or Hospice of the Red River Valley (1102 W. River Rd. Detroit Lakes, MN 56501)