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Alta Johnson

Dec. 5, 1919 – Jan. 25, 2019

On January 25, 2019,

Alta Eudora (Torkelson)

Johnson passed from this

life to the next at the Tio-

ga Nursing Home in Tio-

ga, North Dakota. Alta

was 99 years old, just a

few months away from

her 100th birthday. Alta

will be deeply missed by

her family and friends,

but her family is rejoicing

that she has gained her

eternal home in heaven

with Jesus.

Alta was born on De-

cember 5, 1919 in Ken-

mare, ND to Tilfred and

Inga Torkelson. Alta was

the 5th daughter out of 6

children. Alta graduated

from Kenmare High

School in 1937. On June

27, 1948, she married

Alfred Edwin Johnson at

First Baptist Church in

Kenmare. The couple set-

tled in Kenmare where

Alta lived all of her life.

The couple was blessed

with six children: Alfred

Jr., who passed away

shortly after his birth,

Joette Ilene, Patti Marie,

Virginia Ann, Melody

Lane, and Roxanne Ruth.

Alta also helped raise

Margaret Johnson Zimmer

after Margaret’s mother

died shortly after

Margaret’s birth. Alta con-

sidered Margaret her

daughter as well.

Alta had a deep love for

her Savior, Jesus Christ,

and served him all her

life. She was a charter

member of Faith Baptist

Church in Kenmare where

she was part of the Ladies’

Missions Circle, directed

the Sparks in the AWANA

program, taught Sunday

School, and other various

capacities. She also was a

Gideon’s Auxiliary

member, hosted Child

Evangelism Good News

Clubs, and helped with

Good News Camp in

Drake, ND. Her primary

ministry focus was chil-

dren.

After graduating high

school, Alta worked at

Wemark’s Drugstore in

Kenmare and then be-

came caregiver for Mar-

garet Marie Johnson.

Later, Alta did babysitting

and then worked at the

Kenmare Laundry.

Alta enjoyed her life as

mother, grandmother, and

great-grandmother. She

was known for her

numerous, beautiful

quilts that she quilted for

her family. Each family

member has at least two

quilts made by Alta. Her

16 grandchildren and 14

great-grandchildren espe-

cially benefited when Alta

would make one at their

birth and another at their

high school graduation

and many in between.

She also was known as a

talented cook and her

specialties were fried

chicken, krumkake,

rosettes, pies, and her

famous spritz cookies.

Alta enjoyed gardening,

crafting, puzzles, and

reading. When Alta re-

tired she enrolled in

painting (acrylic, water-

color and oils) at the Lake

View Art Club. She be-

came a talented painter in

many mediums. Alta also

enjoyed traveling. She

travelled to Pakistan,

Mexico, India, and

Venezuela.

Alta and Alfred cele-

brated their 50th anniver-sary in 1998. They had a

reception at Faith Baptist

in Kenmare and later a

family gathering at Lake

Metigoshe. Alta and

Alfred were married 56

years until Alfred’s death

in 2005.

Alta is survived by: Her

daughters, Joette Whims

(Charles), Patti Beck

(Ronald), Virginia (David)

Bruns, Melody (Robert)

Hunskor, Roxanne (Mark)

Enget and honorary

daughter, Margaret Zim-

mer; grandchildren are:

Melody (Chad) Heppner,

Gavin (Nicole) and Robert

(Luwanna) Whims; Julie

(Jairo) Ramos-Lagos,

James, Jill, and Jon (Tri-

sha) Beck; Brooke (Jordan)

Sledge, Kristina Bruns,

Kimberly (Ryan) Wheeler,

and Daniel Bruns; Caleb

and Micah Hunskor; Ash-

ley and her fiance, David

Weaver, Brittani, and

Charissa Enget; great-

grandchildren: Austin,

Collin, and Bristol

Whims; Madison and

Ethan Whims; Alec

Ramos-Lagos, Michael,

Jessica, and Emily Beck;

Ian, Flynn, and Jasmine

Sledge; Hannah and Trini-

ty Wheeler; two sister-in-

laws: Gladys Berg and

Ruth Torkelson; many

nieces, nephews, and

cousins.

Alta was preceded in

death by her parents;

parents-in-law; husband;

infant son; brothers, Glen,

Roy, and Russel and sis-

ters, Lyda (Vernon) Nel-

son and Thelma (Clyde)

Mayer; brother and sister-

in-laws, Irene and Hartley

Walters, Art and Aurene

Johnson, Helen and

Robert Wiegner, Maynard

and Thelma Johnson, and

Carl Berg.

Funeral: Monday,

February 11, 2019, at

11:00 a.m. at Faith Baptist

Church, Kenmare, ND.

Lunch will be served

afterwards. All are wel-

come.

Interment: Will take

place in the spring at

Lakeview Cemetery, Ken-

mare, ND.

Visitation: An hour pri-

or to the funeral service at

the church.

Those wishing to sign

the online register and

share memories may ac-

cess the online obituaries

section at (www.

thompsonlarson.com).