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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Stephen Hugh Farrington
Stephen Hugh
Farrington
March 16, 1926 – July 14, 2017
Stephen Hugh Farrington's Obituary
Stephen Hugh Farrington
March 16, 1926 – July 14, 2017
The final chapter in the earthly life of Stephen Hugh Farrington, 91, much-loved by family, respected newspaperman and legislator, government servant and friend of many, was recorded July 14, 2017 at Mesa, Arizona.
Stephen Hugh Farrington, well-known as "Finney" and "Steve," was born March 16, 1926 to S. Hugh and Ruth Alice (Olson) Farrington at Fessenden, North Dakota. The family moved to Minnewaukan, North Dakota in 1933. Stephen graduated from Minnewauken High School as Valedictorian of his Class of 1944. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy following high school, training at Farragut, Idaho. He served as a Signalman on the U.S.S. Anabelle Lykes in the South Pacific until 1946. He was awarded the American Area Campaign Medal, Victory Medal and Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal. He graduated in 1950 from the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor's degree in education and history. While at UND, Stephen was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, serving as president. He was also a member of Phi Alpha Theta honorary history fraternity and Sigma Delta Chi - Society of Professional Journalists.
Stephen taught school and coached football at Dawson (N.D.) in 1950-51, then joined his father in the family newspaper business, The Harvey Herald, in Harvey, North Dakota. He married JoAnn Marie Goetz on June 12, 1952. They purchased the Wells County Free Press at Fessenden, North Dakota the same year. They were parents of two children, Mary Katherine and Hugh Adam.
In 1963, Stephen accepted a position with the U.S. Government in the Civil Service Commission (CSC) as an investigator, living in West Des Moines, Iowa. In 1965, he transferred to a position in Washington, D.C., living with his family in Silver Springs, Maryland. He also worked on assignment for the CSC in Houston, Texas. In 1966, the family returned to Harvey where Stephen assumed the management and eventual ownership of the Harvey and Fessenden newspapers. In 1969, along with other weekly newspaper publishers in the area, he helped establish North Central Printing, Inc., the first central offset newspaper printing plant in North Dakota, serving as the corporation's first president. In the 1970's, Stephen purchased and operated the Pioneer Press in Cut Bank, Montana.
Stephen served on the board of directors of the North Dakota Newspaper Association for several terms and was the president of NDNA in 1976. His weekly column was named the best in the state in 1973.
Long active in Republican politics, Stephen was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives in 1974 and to the North Dakota State Senate from 1974 to 1980. Stephen was considered for candidacy for the position of Governor
of North Dakota but for JoAnn's health reasons instead moved to Arizona. Not ready to retire, he obtained a Series 7 Security License and was a stockbroker. He later worked for the government's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 20 disaster sites as a public information officer in several states, Puerto Rico and American Samoa.
Stephen was very active in his communities including membership in the Harvey Kiwanis Club, Harvey Toastmasters Club, Eagles, Elks and Greater North Dakota Association (GNDA). He served on the Fessenden City Council. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing and time with his family. He introduced his family to camping, starting in a tent and eventually graduating to a motor home.
Stephen will long be remembered for his wit and intellect, his desire and willingness to embrace technology and its advances -- transitioning from the era of hot-lead printing to cold-type printing in the newspaper business. In addition to his home computers, he employed nearly every version of Apple iPads. To the very end, he was curious and embracing of new technology even asking his daughter to purchase, for him, an iPhone 7 Plus just days before his death.
His quiet charity accomplished for others included many deeds never publicized or recognized. Many people credited him for offering them their first jobs or setting them on their chosen career paths. He employed a number of handicapped or disabled persons before it became the norm and socially important to do so. He especially supported the journalism school at the University of North Dakota during the tenure of Dr. Vernon Keel as director of the school and Dr. Thomas Clifford as University President.
Stephen had a generous and kind spirit and a sense of adventure and loved to travel. He visited Spain, Portugal, France Norway, Russia and traveled to China, New Zealand and Australia among other countries. He made certain his children traveled and saw many parts of the United States and Canada.
Survivors are his wife of 65 years, JoAnn, of Mesa, AZ; his daughter, Mary Katherine Farrington-Lorch; his son-in-law, Martin C. Lorch; his grandchildren, Alexia Christine Lorch, and Cedric Hugh Lorch (all of Phoenix, Arizona); and many relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his son, Hugh Adam Farrington; his parents; a brother, Thomas Farrington; and a nephew, Kirk Farrington.
A funeral mass and memorial service will be held Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 1244 S. Power Road, Mesa 85206 (480-981-2021).
Committal services followed by military rites will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.
Committal services followed by military rites will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.
Memorials are suggested to the Society of St. Vincent DePaul, P.O. Box 13600, Phoenix AZ 85002 (602-266-4483) and the Harvey Public Library, 119 East 10th St., Harvey ND 58341 (701-324-2156). Please reference In Memory of Stephen Hugh Farrington.
Arrangements by Hertz Funeral Home, 800 Birch Avenue, Harvey ND 58341. www.hertzfuneralhomes.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Stephen Hugh Farrington, please visit our flower store.
Funeral Services for Stephen Hugh Farrington
Graveside Service
September
27
North Dakota Veterans Cemetery
Starts at 11:00 am
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