Elvin Boyd Johnson was born Dec. 24, 1925, at the home of his maternal grandparents’ homestead near Noonan, ND, to Anton and Cora (Sorenson) Johnson and passed away peacefully on Jan. 11, 2024, at the Lakota Good Samaritan Home.
Elvin grew up on the family farm in Clara Township, Nelson County, ND. He attended school at Cleveland School through the eighth grade. After eighth grade graduation, he farmed full time with this father until he entered the Air Force on March 28, 1951.
Elvin was an auto mechanic in the Air Force and spent time in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Okinawa, Japan and Madison, Wisconsin. It was during his time in Okinawa that he became a Korean Veteran. Elvin completed his high school education while he was in the service. Elvin received an honorable discharge in March of 1955 at the rank of Staff Sargeant. Elvin would often share that he had never been on the Golden Gate Bridge, but he had sailed under it twice.
After his service, he again came home to farm and purchased his own land near his father’s farm, also in Clara Township. The land included the location that would become the Elvin Johnson Family Farm. Elvin and his family built the farmstead including taking an old windowless building and creating a house which was only the first of many remodeling projects to come to make the house a home, constructing a barn and other outbuildings to building the driveway. The need to constantly improve the farmstead continued with Elvin up until his late eighties as he continued to move dirt to make better access to the buildings.
Elvin married Barbara Carlson July 17, 1956, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Lakota. Elvin and Barb soon welcomed daughter Laurie, sons Philip and Boyd and later daughter Denise. Elvin and Barb farmed together as well as raised dairy and beef cattle. Elvin would also drive the school bus for the Lakota School during the winter months for what was known as the “Brocket Route.” Often, the route would end at the Brocket Grocery store or Miller’s “On the Prairie” for a Mr. Good Bar and bananas.
Elvin was a founding member of the Nelson County Weed Board and served forty years with the Weed Board. He always enjoyed the annual “Weed Board Convention” where he would meet up with old friends and always meet someone new to share his stories and wisdom. Elvin was also active with the Lakota American Legion, Knights of Columbus, and the St. Mary’s Parish Council.
Elvin is survived by his children, Laurie Eidsness (Lakota), Philip (Nita) Johnson (Auburn, WA), Boyd Johnson (Lakota), and Denise (Jay) Sundeen (Lakota). Grandchildren include Elizabeth (Kyle) Boguth (great grandchild Dusan), Cody Johnson, Carter Hendrickson, Chris Hendrickson, and Cole Hendrickson. Step grandchildren include Alyssa (Paul) Konickson (great grandchildren Caleb, Levi), Shane (Lori) Eidsness (great grandchildren Cody, Hannah), Troy (Jennifer) Eidsness (great grandchildren Morgan (great-great grandchild Elliot), and Emily) as well as his Goddaughters, Kathy (Pogatshnik) Quarne, Teri Johnson, and Paula (Carlson) Bewick. Surviving siblings include sister Lucille Tufte (Lakota) and brothers Clifford (Lilah) Johnson (Mandan) and Larry (Pat) Johnson (Lakota) and sister-in-law Irene Johnson (Silver Bay, MN) and Trudy Weigel (Minot).
Preceding Elvin in death include his parents, Anton and Cora Johnson; wife, Barbara; sister, Blanche Ericksrud; brother, Willis Johnson; nephews, Curtis Ericksrud and Gary Ericksrud; as well as brothers-in-law, Richard “Dick” Carlson, Robert “Bob” Carlson, and John Carlson; sister-in-law, Carol Schuh; and son-in-law, Steve Eidsness.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, beginning at 6:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Aaker Funeral Home in Lakota, ND. Mass of Christian burial will be on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lakota. Burial will be in the spring at the Lakota Cemetery.
Memorials are preferred to the Lakota Cemetery.
Arrangements with the Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota, ND www.iversonkassianfuneralservices.com
