James Johnson

Jim was born in Chariton, Iowa, January 27, 1924, to Marshal P. and Vyola Johnson. They moved to Fargo in 1926 following the death of his father. He married Lois Klakeg in Fargo at Olivet Lutheran Church, December 21, 1945. They were blessed with four children: Oldest, Douglas M., children Christina and Matthew live in Port Orchard, WA as does the youngest Clifford (Kip) and his wife JoAnn. Shirley Davis and her husband Rob have two children, Sam and Dana and live in Christine, ND. Stephen and wife Janine live in Moorhead and have three children, Stephanie Melquist, Steve, Jr. and Jimmy. Jim was educated and graduated from the Fargo school system. Jim was also a graduate of the College of Mortuary Science in St. Louis, MO. Jim had been associated with Sears before returning to funeral work as a partner at Ivers Funeral Home in Fargo. Jim served with the Navy during WWII and the Korean Conflict. After his discharged from the Navy, he joined the North Dakota Air National Guard, retiring from that organization in 1969 as Master Sergeant. After retiring in 1979, the family moved to their home on Pelican Lake and remained there until 1998 at which time they moved to Moorhead. Jim served on the Church Council of Zion Lutheran Church (rural Pelican Rapids) and was a member of the building committee for the addition to the old church. Jim was a Past Master East Gate Masonic Lodge, member of Scottish Rite Bodies and Past Potentate of El Zagal Shrine. His wife died in 2001. He is survived by his children as listed above, seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and his brother, Marshall, Moscow, Idaho. Jim died on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at Sanford Health, Fargo, ND. Memorials preferred to Zion Lutheran Church on Franklin Lake near Pelican Rapids, MN. Funeral: Wednesday, May 4, 2011, 2:00 pm at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, ND. Visitation: Tuesday, May 3, 2011 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home. Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Fargo, ND.