Jo Hybben

On the morning of January 16th, 2013, Jo Lynn Ohmia (Heath) Hybben (35 years old) went home to be with God and those that passed before her.

Jo Lynn was an amazing, strong and patient wife, mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, friend and employee. Her favorite activities included anything she could do outside and preferably with snow. She had an adventurous spirit and an ability to live within the moment. She touched so many with her infectious laughter, smile and light. We are saddened that she was taken from us so soon as she had so much more to accomplish.

Jo Lynn was born on October 10th, 1977 in Pusan, South Korea. At the age of 7 months she was brought home to Litchfield, MN. Every year on May 31st her Homecoming Day was remembered in a special way.

For the first 8 years, Jo Lynn and her big sister, Michelle, enjoyed country living on 2 ½ acres several miles outside of Litchfield. Those years were filled with adventures in the nearby woods, driving go-cart, caring for random pets (including a fox, 2 hawks and a raccoon) and "working" at Dad's gas station in Darwin. Every summer the girls would stay with their Aunt Donna and Uncle Archie in Minneapolis for some shopping and fun. The family moved into Litchfield the summer before Jo Lynn entered 4th grade.

Jo Lynn was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church. She graduated from High School in 1996 and headed off to the College of St. Catherine's in the Twin Cities to obtain her AA and AS degrees. Jo Lynn went to work for the Piper Breast Center at Abbott Northwestern as a Mammographer immediately after graduating in '98.

It was on New Year's Eve 1998 when Jo Lynn met Lance. She told her mom that she met a guy who really made her laugh. They dated for several years, enduring time away from one another while Jo Lynn attended Basic Training for the Air National Guard. The two married on March 29th, 2003 in St. Paul, MN and honeymooned in Blue Fin Bay, returning every year on their anniversary. They went on multiple camping trips including wilderness camping, canoeing through the Boundary Waters and enjoyed hiking, fishing and biking together. Lance still calls her his "Sweet Wife" after nearly 10 years of marriage.

Samuel Thomas joined the family 2.5 months earlier than expected on January 30, 2008. Fortunately, he has been blessed with so much of his mother's strength and determination. Sam was given a beautiful baby sister, Lucy Jean, on April 28, 2011. She was also an early gift for Jo Lynn and Lance and looks so much like her mom. Jo Lynn loved her children so much and put all of her energy into caring for them.

Our sweet Jo Lynn is survived by her loving husband, Lance Hybben and children Samuel Thomas (almost 5) and Lucy Jean (21 months) of Fridley, parents Richard and Carol Heath of Litchfield, sister Michelle (David) and nieces, Kaliya and Reyna Berg of Fargo, grandmother Viola Lenhard of Litchfield, mother-in-law Jean Kelley of East Bethel, Terry (Rita) Hybben of Shoreview, Shannon (Dan), nephew, Calvin and niece, Olivia Stepan of Woodbury, Shane (Marcy), nephew Dustin, nieces Morgan, Brittany, Lexi, Abby Hybben of Ramsey, and so many other family and friends who loved her.