Randy Linn Fort

Randy Linn Fort, 62, of Naples, Id., formerly of Rushford, Minn., died unexpectedly from complications of an aneurysm April 30, 2016 at Bonner Health, Sandpoint, Idaho. His wife Spring was at his side, holding his hand, when he passed.

Celebrations of life will be held this summer close to home in Idaho, and at a later date in Minnesota.

Randy Fort was born May 13, 1953 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, first son of six children born to Janice and Arnold Fort. He grew up on a dairy farm in Houston County, Minnesota, the state where most of his family still resides.

Fort enlisted in the US Army in July 1971. He completed basic combat training and then advanced individual training for the military occupational specialty (MOS) 51B, carpentry, construction and utility worker at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Fort served tours of duty at West Point, NY; Korea; and Fort Lewis, WA where he learned additional skills in stone masonry. He was honorably discharged July 1974 with the rank of Specialist 4 (E-4).

Just months before leaving the military, Randy visited Spirit Lake, ID, with Army friends for a social visit, and met the woman who would later become his wife, Spring Artz, oldest daughter of Barbara Adkins. It was love at first sight. Upon discharge that July, he spent a few weeks in Spirit Lake to arrange his new life with Spring, before returning to his family’s home in Minnesota to get settled.

He soon started work at Rochester Silo, but left when the work proved too risky, and moved on to Deer Lake Farms in Wisconsin. He sent for Spring to join him from Idaho in October of that year. They were married April 10, 1975 and set up house in Minnesota. The pair ran a local dairy farm together, milking and handling all the chores. Spring worked right up until the morning their son, Jeremiah “Buck” Fort, was born. The new family took up residence in a house located on Uncle Donald Fort’s dairy farm in February 1976. This move allowed Randy to embark on the first stage of his longtime diesel and farm equipment repair career, starting at Tri County Co-op.

Later, in 1984, Randy went into business for himself running Fort’s Tractor Repair. The business grew, until such time that his pickup no longer functioned as a sufficient base of operations. A hauling trailer, shop, and even an employee would be helpful now to meet the great demand for repair work. In May 1990, after much discussion, the house was listed for sale, belongings were auctioned off, and the three relocated to North Idaho, nearer to Spring’s parents.

Randy learned how to hunt when he was a kid, from his dad and Uncle Earl.

They hunted deer, fox, and raccoon in Minnesota. One thing Fort loved is hunting with hounds. They were the mainstay of his raccoon hunting livelihood when the family was starting out, and the prized hounds ended up being close partners and companions as well. Subsistence hunting was the way, and the new countryside in Idaho would allow for adding elk, bear, cougar and bobcat to the diet and hunting experience.

Coeur d’Alene Tractor hired Randy on the spot at their Bonners Ferry location, and he was once again employed. In 1997 Spring and Randy purchased 6 acres in Mountain Meadows. They lived there ever since, and Spring will remain there.

In 2012 Randy had imaging tests to diagnose the cause of his back problems. Images showed a cancerous node in his lung, which was treated soon after through surgery. He retired at that time even though he would have rather kept working. After retirement, he eventually was happy to spend time at the shop for social rather than professional reasons. He loved his leisure time in recent years, watching lots of movies, old westerns among them, and planning his day around favorite television shows.

Though he would resist the compliments, it is widely agreed by those who knew him, that Randy was known for his intelligence, humor, and quick wit. His outstanding work ethic was instilled in him as a young boy by his father. The legacy of doing the right thing and caring for others has been passed down and is still going strong in Buck and his daughter Alanna, Randy’s granddaughter. Randy cared about saving small farmers money, even going out late at night to fix a bailer – and getting it done quickly – so his clients could get back to work. He also taught clients how to manage small fixes themselves, regardless of how that might cut into his own future earnings.

This is how the family chooses to remember him: a tough guy on the outside, who could give a good ribbing, who also could be tender at times and who cared a great deal for those around him.

Randy was preceded in death by his father, Arnold Fort, and uncles, Donald and Earl Fort, among other siblings.

He is survived by wife, Spring, of Naples, ID; son Jeremiah (“Buck”) and granddaughter Alanna, of Marysville, WA; mother, Janice Fort of Winona, MN; sisters Linda (Reid) Church and Rhonda (Louis) Literski; three brothers, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Randy Fort Memorial Fund, in person at any Mountain West bank or by mail at Randy Fort Memorial Fund, Mountain West Bank, PO Box 59, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805.