Johnny Mac Fairbanks

On June 12th, 2026, Johnny Mac Fairbanks, 69, passed away peacefully at the home he built for his family in Bemidji. He was born on December 29th, 1956, in Oklahoma City to Lucille (Scherer) and Albert Edward Fairbanks. He was the youngest son of 8 children.

Johnny Mac grew up in Oklahoma City and often traveled to Ball Club to visit family in his youth. He eventually moved up to Ball Club and started building his life here in Minnesota.

He graduated from Southeast High School in Oklahoma City. He went to college first at University of Oklahoma but chose to accept the University of Minnesota’s offer to join their Mechanical Engineering program where he graduated.

Over the years, Johnny Mac worked for many companies in the engineering and construction fields, leaving behind a legacy of buildings, infrastructure, and projects across Minnesota, the Red Lake Reservation, and the Leech Lake Reservation. He was very proud of everything he built which included bridges, water systems, buildings, houses, and additions and upgrades to existing buildings and infrastructure. Outside of construction and engineering, he also helped with many people’s cars, had many side projects he was always working on, and took part in the seasonal activities. This included balsam picking for which he wrote the song he is famous for in Ball Club on his guitar. He also took time out of his busy life to learn how to make his own beer, make his own bread and ice cream, do gardening, make a home-made ice-skating ring, and many more projects and hobbies he just wanted to try his hand at. His talents seemed endless and anything he wanted to try, he did, with varying degrees of success.

Johnny Mac had a unique view of the world. His children, niece and nephews, and their friends were able to experience the world how he saw it. Often ending up on adventures in the woods for firewood, hunting, or trapping, riding on salvaged snow mobiles and go karts, and having a coach in their corner as they wrestled, played sports, or played their instruments across Minnesota. He wrote different pieces of music on his piano and guitar that he taught to his children. He also shared with them a curiosity and drive to go out and try new and different things. Moreover, many people came to him for advice and wisdom that he freely distributed – using colorful words that everyone who talked with him knows. His mind was a tool that he sharpened over the course of this life and a gift to the many who crossed his path.

Johnny Mac is survived by his partner in life Tammy White. Seven of his children David Fairbanks, Tyrone Fairbanks, Stephanie Fairbanks, Samantha Fairbanks, Dion Fairbanks, Jesse Fairbanks, and Hazen Fairbanks. His grandchildren Amira, Locke, Lucy, Billy-Bob, Grace, Harvey, Jaden, Theo, and Emerson. Two siblings, Kathryn Fairbanks and Priscilla Fairbanks. As well as many more relatives.

Johnny Mac is greeted in the spirit world by his parents, his daughter Erin Rossbach, his son Johnathan Fairbanks, three brothers, Robert, Richard, and Duane Fairbanks, Sisters Tawana Fairbanks and Dinese Landrum, and nephews, Duane “Sunny” Meat, John Duane Fairbanks, and Robert Fairbanks II.

Services for Johnny will be held at the Ball Club Community Center. A wake will begin on Wednesday, June 17th at 7 pm, followed by funeral services Thursday, June 18th at 11 am. He will be laid to rest in Cass Lake, Minnesota, beside his son, daughter, and nephew.

Johnny Mac’s Pallbearers will be David Fairbanks, Tyrone Fairbanks, Dion Fairbanks, Jesse Fairbanks, Benjamin Meat, and Ryan Cash. His honorary pallbearers will be all of his children, grandchildren, and nephews. 

Johnny’s care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home, Walker, MN. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.northernpeace.com

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