Josh Christy

The Creator Almighty called Joshua David Christy home way too early on February 18, 2025. Born into a family artist farmstead near Valley City, Barnes County, North Dakota, Joshua David Christy (aka, Josh) entered this world on June 28, 1981. 

During his childhood in the 1980s, Josh spent summers outdoors, exploring, playing in the sandbox, swaying on tire swings, fending off the territorial farm goose with a squirt gun, cape and toy sword, tending to barn kittens and baby goats, running with the family dog, Whitney, and all of this in the company of sister Jessica, sometimes with brothers Rick Brown and Todd Farrell, and sometimes with friends and cousins. Family artist trips with his father, David Christy, and his mother, Linda Whitney, would take him and his sister, Jessica Christy, to Art in the Park in Mandan during summers, and other locations throughout Bismarck and North Dakota. 

Eventually Josh migrated with his father to Fargo, graduating from Fargo North High School in 1999. Here in Fargo, he would also meet an additional sister, Rosie Kirby Cruse, along with siblings Matt and Emily, and their mother, Jan Christy. From 1999 to 2003, Josh attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, graduating with a Bachelor of Art degree in Art. 

In autumn of 2004, Josh met the love of his life, Mary Mardian (Aberdeen, South Dakota). They hit it off, dated, and eventually Josh mustered the courage to ask her if she would consider marriage. Mary agreed. They joined one another in marriage on October 25, 2008, and began making a life in Grand Forks. They eventually migrated south in the Red River Valley to Fargo. 

Art, and the practice thereof, as it was expressed in all professions, disciplines, friendships, and legislative policy making, remained a part of Josh’s genetic code. Josh had an inherent understanding of computers, and maintained a deliberate curiosity toward software, hardware, and digital architecture. Through this, he helped numerous others better grasp and understand digital platforms. 

Josh kept busy as a digital web designer with the Student Wellness Center at the University of North Dakota. Demand for his expertise increased. He launched off onto his own on April 1, 2009, formally establishing Codelation, a software development and website design company. His patience, coupled with his understanding of computers and tech, his friendly demeanor, and his infinite curiosity, allowed for what seemed like an ease into launching onto his own. 

The best and most important job awaited. Josh wanted to be a father as much as his wife, Mary, wanted to be a mother. He so very much loved, and continues to love, his three daughters, Reagan, Abigail, and Olivia. He and Mary’s late son, Ethan Joshua Christy (10/02/2011), came and was also called home way too soon. 

Josh would update his social media account and text his family and friends what he, Mary, Reagan, Abigail, and Olivia were up to. This included events for Christmas at Living Waters Lutheran Church in Fargo, visiting gigantic recycled wood trolls in Detroit Lakes, in the stands at Redhawks Baseball games in Fargo-Moorhead, delicious foodie pics, spiritual seminars, University of North Dakota hockey games, home gardening, stories of prayer and perseverance, his annual visitation’s to Ethan’s grave, Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brothers visits, and the wonderful trip he and Mary took to Mexico in 2008. What Josh understood most important was being a father and husband. He absolutely loved and cherished his girls, Mary, Reagan, Abigail and Olivia.

In 2023, the voters of North Dakota District 27 sent Representative Joshua David Christy to the North Dakota statehouse in Bismarck starting with the 68th North Dakota Legislative Assembly. His public and entrepreneurial background in digital technology and artificial intelligence informed policy and bills he crafted and advocated for in subcommittees and on the house floor. Christy served in the 69th Legislative Assembly at the time of his death.

One of his many strengths was his sensitivity to others. At 6’ 7” tall, and in combination with his demeanor, he was known in the legislative halls as a “gentle giant.” Josh would sometimes talk about his late grandfather, Robert Whitney, who served in the 1980s with North Dakota Governor George Sinner, couching his twenty-first century service as an extension of Whitney’s. Josh held to a statesman truism on policy agreements and disagreements, and it is best to quote him here: “…don’t let policy get in the way of being a good person.” Whether he agreed or disagreed, he held to the ideal of being kind, respectful, and nice to one another. 

Josh was preceded in death by his and Mary’s son, Ethan Joshua Christy, Robert Whitney (grandfather), Irene (Chambers) Whitney (grandmother), Robert Whitney, Jr. (Uncle), Kala Lovgren (Cousin), Richard Christy (grandfather), Diane Christy (step-grandmother), Irma Jeannine (Kulhavy) Christy (grandmother), Wendy Christy (aunt), and Matthew Michael Kirby (step-brother). 

Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Friday, February 28, 2025, at Living Waters Lutheran Church, 4451 40th Ave S., Fargo, ND with Rev. Dan Dornfeld officiating.  Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Fargo, ND.  

Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM, on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at the church with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM.  Visitation will continue from 10-11 AM on Friday at the church.  

The funeral service will be livestreamed on the Living Waters Church Facebook page and their YouTube page.