Iva D. Gunderson was born May 19, 1924 in Hoople, ND the daughter of the late Clarence and Elvina (Johnson) Gunderson. She attended rural school near Hoople and graduated from Hoople High School. She attended Mayville State Teachers College and received her teaching certificate and later her Bachelors Degree. She taught school for one year in Forest River, ND, six years at Dundee School near Park River and 22 years in Park River, retiring in 1989. Iva was united in marriage to Clifford Johnson on June 19, 1946 in Hoople, ND. He passed away on Aug. 9, 1994.
Iva was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church and WELCA, the Walsh County Quilters, Homemakers and the Hospital Auxiliary. She was an avid quilter and loved sharing her quilts with family and friends. Iva enjoyed traveling and making new friends.
Iva is survived by her children: Sharon Nelson, Warren, MN; Roger (Vicki Jo) Johnson, Goodyear, AZ; LaDonna Johnson, Vancouver, WA; Lynette (John) Northagen, Grand Forks, ND; eight grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren and her sister, Ruth (Allen) Veum, Maple Grove, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, four sisters: Mavis (Marshall) Gibson, Venise (Harvey) Hanson, Phyllis (Chuck) Payton, Elaine (Bill) Morey and her son-in-law, Gerald Nelson.
Special thanks to the staff of Edgewood Senior Living for the extraordinary care and special friendships developed over the past 18 months. The family is especially grateful for the care and compassion received by Altru Hospital and Red River Valley Hospice.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Park River, ND. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Park River in the spring. The funeral service will be livestreamed on the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church Facebook page. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Park River Bible Camp, Red River Valley Hospice or Edgewood Senior Living in Grand Forks.