Donald Johnson

October 3, 1919 - May 2, 2009

Donald L. Johnson was born to Henry and Cornelia (Sundet) Johnson in Fort Ransom, ND on October 3, 1919. He was a 1937 graduate of Lisbon High School. In September 1942, he enlisted in the US Army, attending a Radio Repair School at the University of ND, Grand Forks. In May 1943, he reported for active duty and took basic training at Camp Kohler near Sacramento, CA. Upon completion he was sent overseas to the European Theatre of Operations. Don returned from overseas in July 1945 and was discharged in October 1945. Mr. Johnson worked for Montgomery Ward in Valley City until May 1950. He then attended Gale Institute, in Minneapolis, a training school for Railroad Telegraphers and Station Agents. Upon completion in January 1951, he went to work for the Northern Pacific Railway which later became the Burlington Railway. He worked at many different railroad stations. He retired in August 1986, at which time he was the freight agent in Valley City. On August 29, 1959, he married Rebecca A. Skonnord in Valley City. He was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church where he had been treasurer for 33 years and was a life member of the American Legion and VFW. Don died at Jamestown Hospital on May 2, 2009. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Henry and Jerome; sister, Berniece Olson; and twin sister, Dorothy Mann. He is survived by his wife, Becky; sons, Paul of Woodbury, MN and Dale (Janet) of Edina, MN; grandchildren, Carly, Maria, Brady, and Christine; and a sister, Eileen Albertson of St. Louis Park, MN.