Forrest Giannonatti

Forrest Sion Giannonatti Sr., 100, of Mentor, MN, passed away peacefully at home on July 27, 2025.

Forrest Giannonatti was born on November 18, 1924, in Camp Crook, South Dakota to Andrew H. Giannonatti and Margaret Claire Welch Giannonatti. He attended Buffalo High School in Buffalo, SD and graduated in 1943.

Forrest enlisted in 1944 at 20 years of age and began his active-duty service in the United States Army Corp of Engineers. After training at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, he shipped out with almost 3,000 other soldiers on a carrier to fight with ground forces at Iwo Jima, Japan. Before the ship landed, President Truman had dropped the atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The war ended. Forrest was then stationed at a post in Hokkaido, the northernmost part of Japan, famous for its extreme levels of snowfall. That winter the snow reached reported depths of 19.5 feet. It was the most abnormal weather in 150 years.

When Forrest returned home he enlisted in the ERC (Enlisted Reserve Corp) and began ranching with his father. He sheared sheep all around the Harding County area and delivered rural mail on horseback to local neighbors at Ludlow, SD on what was known as the Lincoln Route.

As a member of the Enlisted Reserve Corp he was called up in 1950 to serve in the Korean Conflict. Once he received his notice on September 17, 1950, Forrest and Patricia Flathers decided to marry and less than a month later they wed on October 12, 1950 in Camp Crook. Six days after the wedding on October 18, 1950, Forrest traveled by train from Marmoth, ND to Ft. Lewis, WA and served as Staff Sergeant. Patricia joined him two months later. They stayed in Washington until he shipped out in February of 1951. Forrest again traveled by carrier to the Pusan Army base on the southern tip of the Korean peninsula. He arrived in Korea with UN forces just following two of the deadliest battles of the Korean Conflict.

During his service in Korea, Forrest took no leave time as he was anxious to get back to his new bride at home in South Dakota. He served abroad for 13 of his 21-month term with his foreign service ending with appendix surgery. At the conclusion of his service, he was decorated with the Korean Service Medal, two Bronze Service Stars, and a Meritorious Unit Citation.

Forrest survived two wars, a serious construction accident and a major medical event.

Forrest spent years supporting his family by ranching and construction work, an iron worker and then ultimately returning to ranching in Mizpah, MN in the late 60's. Forrest and Pat made homes in Buffalo, Belle Fourche, and Rapid City, SD where they built a new home, lived for several years in Crookston, MN before moving to Mizpah. He finished his career running a large feedlot and cow herd for the Flaat Cattle Company near Mentor, MN. His sons Sion and Lin ranched with him for many years. Except for the time he spent as an iron worker, he was always caring for livestock and was never without a good saddle horse, actually many good saddle horses!

At 100 years old, Forrest continued to live at home with the wife that he had adored for 74 years, at their ranch in Mentor. Theirs was a fairy tale romance and they seemed to be able to charm each other a little bit every day right up to the end of his life. Forty-five years ago they had aptly named their home the Trail's End Ranch. Both Forrest and Pat were determined never to move again. Together, Forrest and Pat raised six children, 16 beloved and devoted grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.

Notably, Forrest and Pat always had an extra room in their home for any youngster who was in need of a place to stay or a job, or any child or grandchild who was between things. Their hospitality and generosity to those in need knew no bounds.

His pride and joy were his grandchildren and raising fine registered quarter horses. His horses were shown and competed all over North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Colorado. He showed horses with partners Lynn and Deb Jabs of Colorado Springs, CO. They won many awards, most notably Rocky Mountain Quarterhorse Assn. Reserve Champion for Stallion" Go Vanzi Go" at competitions in Denver. He and Pat had a great love of rodeo and they were always thrilled to have a chance to watch cousin, Jesse Bail compete in professional rodeo.

The Veteran's Administration has provided generous support and service to Forrest in his later years through their Community Care program and with the assistance of the excellent people at Polk County Veterans Assistance Program.

The Hearts in Action Hospice program formerly known as the Hospice of Red River Valley provided gentle and highly professional personal care for Forrest during the last four months of his life.

Forrest is preceded in death by his son, Kirk Giannonatti; infant grandson, Anthony Giannonatti; parents, Andrew and Margaret (Babe) Giannonatti; sisters, Roseann Jackson and Zeta Giannonatti; and son-in-law, Paul Mitchell.

Forrest is survived by his wife, Patricia Flathers Giannonatti; children, Roxann Mitchell of Hackettstown, NJ, Reathel Giannonatti of Mentor, MN, Forrest Sion Giannonatti, Jr. (Belinda Sue) of Mentor, MN, Katherine Giannonatti, wife of the late Kirk Giannonatti of Mentor, MN, Terrill Bradford (Tom) of Mentor, MN, Lin Giannonatti (Laurie) of Brainerd, MN; grandchildren, Heather Burd (Luke), Rachel Morberg (Dan) Jessica Olson (Zachary) Amy Giannonatti, Blake Smith, Chloe Giannonatti, Juliette Ystenes (Ben), Luke Smith (Miranda) Claire Giannonatti, Casey Giannonatti, Marshall Giannonatti (Gabrielle), Marley Abrams (Grant) Andrew Giannonatti (Kynndyl), Kelsey Rittenhour, (Cameron) Laine Berg (Garrett) Bailey Bradford; great-grandchildren, Kyra Giannonatti, Allyssa Morberg, Alexa Morberg, Elliana Olson, Ayla Olson, Avery Morberg, Lynn Burd, Forrest Burd, Remi Freedberg, Paisley Olson, Bella Giannonatti, Mia Giannonatti, Gage Giannonatti, Genevieve Smith, Lochlan Abrams, Charlotte Smith, and Callum Rittenour.

Forrest's family will celebrate his life with a memorial service on Saturday August 23, 2025, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Mentor, MN, beginning with visitation at 10:00 am. A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am with cowboy dinner following the Mass. Burial will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers please send memorials to Disabled American Veterans and or the Hearts in Action Hospice.