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).