James Edward (Jim) Johnston Sr., 94, passed away on April 9, 2022 in Lutheran Sunset Home, Grafton, after a short illness.
Jim was born on December 4, 1927 in Grafton, ND, the oldest child of parents, Milton and Hazel (Digness) Johnston. He graduated from Grafton High School in 1945. Jim completed the first semester at the University of Minnesota before he was called to serve his country as a member of the occupation forces in Japan at the end of World War II with the 11th Airborne Division achieving his para-trooper wings. Following his service, Jim re-enrolled at the University of Minnesota where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering, with Distinction. He met his future wife over a bridge table while he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Jim married Marion Ruth Crawmer on March 19, 1949 at the Hennepin Avenue Methodist Church in Minneapolis. Following graduation, Jim worked for Allis Chalmers in West Allis, Wisconsin before being called to again serve his country at Camp Atterbury near Indianapolis, IN during the Korean War. Jim and Marion made their home in Grafton, ND, having operated a potato, sugar beet, and wheat farm. They are the parents of three sons, James Jr. (Linda), Grafton, ND; Scott (Vicki), Alexandria, MN; and Richard (Helena), Fargo, ND.
Jim was a member of Federated Church, Grafton, ND and Desert Hills Lutheran Church, Green Valley, AZ. He was very active in many organizations including serving as a Director or Board Member on the boards of Western States Life Insurance Company, Red River Valley Potato Growers Association, Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association, North Dakota Crops Institute Council, Nodak Mutual Insurance Company, Federated Church, North Dakota Farm Bureau, Walsh County Farm Bureau, and the North Dakota Experiment Station and Extension Service Consultation Board. He also served as Board Chairman or President of Farmington Township, Grafton Deaconess Hospital, Nash Grain and Trading, Walsh Water Users (1st president), and national president of The Potato Board, serving on its Executive Committee for six years. Jim was a member of the Crescent Lodge Kem Temple Masonic Lodge. In 1980, he received the Meritorious Service Award from the Red River Valley Potato Growers Association for his achievements and service to the potato industry. He also taught his three sons and many grandchildren to drive on the farm (at a very early age).
He enjoyed spending time with his family, winters in Green Valley, AZ, his friends in ND and AZ, golfing, playing bridge and sharing his social calendar with his very special cousin Merle Fedje.
Jim is survived and will be dearly missed by his three sons, nine grandchildren, Jason (Sarah) Johnston, Grafton; Kevin (Tondi) Johnston, Fargo and Brian (Alecia) Johnston, Zionville, IN; Julie (Nicholas) Williams, Clement, FL; Shane (Sarah) Johnston and Kelly (Aaron) Bumgarner, Alexandria, MN; Megan (Joseph) Johnston Flanders, Cannon Falls, MN; Lindsay (Andrew) Holmgren, Hopkins, MN; and Ellen (Zack) Word, Papillion, NE; and 23 great-grandchildren, Aria Braaten and James Johnston, Kinley Johnston, Addison and Levi Johnston, Jeremy, Jacob, Olivia and Sofia Williams, Blake, Ella, Charlie and Lola Johnston, Cora, Carson and Liesel Bumgarner, Benjamin and William Flanders, Cohen, Elsa and Emma Holmgren and Brooks and Piper Word. He is also survived by his two sisters Natalie Meier, Grand Forks, ND; Mary Ellen Heising, Santa Rosa, CA and many dearly loved nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Marion, his parents, Milton and Hazel Johnston; parents-in-law, Haskell and Ruth Crawmer; step mother-in-law, Ellen Crawmer; brothers-in-law Leroy Meier, Donald Heising, Duane, William and Donald Crawmer and Robert Ebenreiter; sisters-in-law Marian Crawmer, Marguerite (Peg) Ebenreiter, Ruby Crawmer and Harriett Crawmer and nephews Theodore Ebenreiter, James D Lequire and Daniel Crawmer.
Visitation will be from 4-6pm with a prayer service at 6:00 PM on Friday, May 6 at Tollefson Funeral Home, Grafton, ND. Funeral services will be at 10:30am on Saturday, May 7 at Federated Church, Grafton, ND. Inurnment will be at the Crescent Cemetery of Grafton. Military rites will be provided by the Grafton American Legion and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard.
Memorials are suggested to the Carnegie Regional Library (audio books), Federated Church, Unity Hospital, Lutheran Sunset Home and Hospice of the Red River Valley.
Jim was born on December 4, 1927 in Grafton, ND, the oldest child of parents, Milton and Hazel (Digness) Johnston. He graduated from Grafton High School in 1945. Jim completed the first semester at the University of Minnesota before he was called to serve his country as a member of the occupation forces in Japan at the end of World War II with the 11th Airborne Division achieving his para-trooper wings. Following his service, Jim re-enrolled at the University of Minnesota where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering, with Distinction. He met his future wife over a bridge table while he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Jim married Marion Ruth Crawmer on March 19, 1949 at the Hennepin Avenue Methodist Church in Minneapolis. Following graduation, Jim worked for Allis Chalmers in West Allis, Wisconsin before being called to again serve his country at Camp Atterbury near Indianapolis, IN during the Korean War. Jim and Marion made their home in Grafton, ND, having operated a potato, sugar beet, and wheat farm. They are the parents of three sons, James Jr. (Linda), Grafton, ND; Scott (Vicki), Alexandria, MN; and Richard (Helena), Fargo, ND.
Jim was a member of Federated Church, Grafton, ND and Desert Hills Lutheran Church, Green Valley, AZ. He was very active in many organizations including serving as a Director or Board Member on the boards of Western States Life Insurance Company, Red River Valley Potato Growers Association, Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association, North Dakota Crops Institute Council, Nodak Mutual Insurance Company, Federated Church, North Dakota Farm Bureau, Walsh County Farm Bureau, and the North Dakota Experiment Station and Extension Service Consultation Board. He also served as Board Chairman or President of Farmington Township, Grafton Deaconess Hospital, Nash Grain and Trading, Walsh Water Users (1st president), and national president of The Potato Board, serving on its Executive Committee for six years. Jim was a member of the Crescent Lodge Kem Temple Masonic Lodge. In 1980, he received the Meritorious Service Award from the Red River Valley Potato Growers Association for his achievements and service to the potato industry. He also taught his three sons and many grandchildren to drive on the farm (at a very early age).
He enjoyed spending time with his family, winters in Green Valley, AZ, his friends in ND and AZ, golfing, playing bridge and sharing his social calendar with his very special cousin Merle Fedje.
Jim is survived and will be dearly missed by his three sons, nine grandchildren, Jason (Sarah) Johnston, Grafton; Kevin (Tondi) Johnston, Fargo and Brian (Alecia) Johnston, Zionville, IN; Julie (Nicholas) Williams, Clement, FL; Shane (Sarah) Johnston and Kelly (Aaron) Bumgarner, Alexandria, MN; Megan (Joseph) Johnston Flanders, Cannon Falls, MN; Lindsay (Andrew) Holmgren, Hopkins, MN; and Ellen (Zack) Word, Papillion, NE; and 23 great-grandchildren, Aria Braaten and James Johnston, Kinley Johnston, Addison and Levi Johnston, Jeremy, Jacob, Olivia and Sofia Williams, Blake, Ella, Charlie and Lola Johnston, Cora, Carson and Liesel Bumgarner, Benjamin and William Flanders, Cohen, Elsa and Emma Holmgren and Brooks and Piper Word. He is also survived by his two sisters Natalie Meier, Grand Forks, ND; Mary Ellen Heising, Santa Rosa, CA and many dearly loved nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Marion, his parents, Milton and Hazel Johnston; parents-in-law, Haskell and Ruth Crawmer; step mother-in-law, Ellen Crawmer; brothers-in-law Leroy Meier, Donald Heising, Duane, William and Donald Crawmer and Robert Ebenreiter; sisters-in-law Marian Crawmer, Marguerite (Peg) Ebenreiter, Ruby Crawmer and Harriett Crawmer and nephews Theodore Ebenreiter, James D Lequire and Daniel Crawmer.
Visitation will be from 4-6pm with a prayer service at 6:00 PM on Friday, May 6 at Tollefson Funeral Home, Grafton, ND. Funeral services will be at 10:30am on Saturday, May 7 at Federated Church, Grafton, ND. Inurnment will be at the Crescent Cemetery of Grafton. Military rites will be provided by the Grafton American Legion and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard.
Memorials are suggested to the Carnegie Regional Library (audio books), Federated Church, Unity Hospital, Lutheran Sunset Home and Hospice of the Red River Valley.