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Warren Johnson was born April 19, 1933 in Bismarck, ND to Dewey and Lorine (Samuelson) Johnson. He was raised in Zap, ND, Butte, MT, Horace, ND, and Buffalo, ND. When he was a sophomore in high school he moved to a farm near Fingal, ND. He graduated in 1951 as Salutatorian. He went to Valley City State Teachers College for 8 weeks and was known as an “8-week wonder” because then he could go out and teach. His first assignment was at Brown School, north of Valley City. After that year he decided to go back to Valley City State Teachers College and get a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education.
After marrying Elizabeth Windish in 1956 they moved to Broadus, MT to teach math and science. The next year they moved to Poplar, MT on the Sioux Assiniboine Indian Reservation. He started teaching math and science there, then took one year off as he was awarded a Science Institute scholarship at UND to get his Masters in Administration. He then became the Elementary Principal. After 5 years as Principal he went back to teaching math and science. He served in the Navy for 6 months before the school Superintendent asked that he be discharged because of the shortage of math/science teachers; so, he was honorably discharged. In 1975, after 20 years of teaching, he decided to go back home to Fingal, ND and take care of his farm and provide opportunities for his son to learn a wide variety of skills. Even as busy as they were, he always managed to find time during the summer to take the family fishing. He farmed with his son until his son left in 1992 to pursue a career in informal science education in planetariums and museums and continued to farm until he retired in 1999.
The happiest days of his life were the birth of his son in 1968, and now the birth of two precious grandsons.
He died on May 10, 2015 at the Sheyenne Care Center with his family at his side. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Liz, son Durand (Marsha), two grandsons, James and Kevin, and his brother Bartley. Preceding him in death were his parents and a sister, Eleanor.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00AM, Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, Valley City, ND.
Visitation will be from 5:00PM – 7:00PM, Tuesday, May 12, 2015 St. Catherine’s Catholic Church. A prayer service will follow at 7:00PM, Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church.
An online guest book is available at lerudschuldt.com.