John M. Sjoquist, 58, Cathay, North Dakota, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, August 17, 2023 at CHI-St. Alexius Hospital in Carrington, North Dakota.  Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at St. Augustine's Catholic Church, Fessenden, North Dakota.  Fr. Steven Wirth will officiate and burial will be at 2:30 p.m. at the McClusky City Cemetery, McClusky, North Dakota.  Visitation will be Tuesday, August 22, 2023, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at the Nelson Funeral Home, Fessenden, North Dakota and from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the church followed by a rosary and vigil service at 7:00 p.m.  The funeral will be livestreamed at: https://www.mtmsales.net/memorial.

John Mathew Sjoquist was born December 11, 1964 in Kenmare, North Dakota to Gordon and Rose (Mueller) Sjoquist.  John was raised and attended school in Tolley, North Dakota.  John enlisted in the Army National Guard following his high school graduation in 1983.  He attended the University of North Dakota for one semester before transferring to Minot State.  It was here where he met Tracy Helm and they were married on September 30, 1989 in McClusky.  John graduated from Minot State in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education.  For a time he worked at Target in Minot.

John left the National Guard in 1991.  In 1993, John and Tracy accepted teaching positions in Naschitti, New Mexico.  They returned to North Dakota in 1997 and taught at Tate Topa Tribal School in Fort Totten.  In 1999, John returned to school for a short time at Lake Region State College.  It was at this time that he re-enlisted in the National Guard.  In 2000 he worked fulltime for the National Guard, Task Force that built housing on the reservation.  After 9/11 he began working Force Protection at Camp Grafton near Devils Lake, North Dakota.  In 2003, John's unit, the 3662 GSMC was activated to go to Afganistan, and would end up spending 10 months at Fort Riley in Kansas.  He was deployed in 2005 with A Co. 164 EB to Iraq and Kuwait until November of 2006.  John returned to teaching in 2007 and spent five years teaching sixth grade at Warwick Public School. He returned to full-time National Guard work in 2012, first as part of the re-set team and eventually getting a Federal Technician position at CSMS in the paint shop.

John's greatest loves in life were his family, music (specifically anything Beatles), hunting, World of Warcraft, and cooking.  He was awesome at it all.

John is survived by his wife Tracy, children Erienne (Brian) Huber, Gordon, and Mathew, grandchildren, Kaladin and Auri Huber, sisters, Kim (Kelly) Triplett, Cherie Sjoquist, Tina Sjoquist, and Amy Sjoquist, Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, LaDonna Plienis, Bonnie (Wayne) Kabanuck, Cheryl (Rick) Bentz and Dwight (Nina Rippee, special friend) Helm, numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Rose Sjoquist, sister Bernice Sjoquist, in-laws, Albert and Marilyn Helm, brothers-in-law, David Helm and Harold Plienis, infant son Garion Sjoquist, Godmother Aunt Florence Haines, special uncle Roman Mueller, and many other aunts and uncles.