Gerald W. Johnson

Gerald W. Johnson, 87,

Bismarck, formerly of Vel-

va, died Saturday, June

26, 2021, in a Bismarck

Hospital.

Gerald was born August

20, 1933, in Max, ND to

Walter and Beda (Kloster)

Johnson. He was educated

in country schools near

Ruso, ND. Gerald was in-

ducted into the US Army

on April 9, 1959, and was

honorably discharged

March 21, 1961.

Gerald was united in

marriage to Mary

Swedlund on November

12, 1961, at Oak Valley

Lutheran Church in Vel-

va. They made their home

in Velva, ND and were

blessed with a daughter

and son.

Gerald spent his entire

working life employed by

Farmer’s Union Oil Com-

pany in Velva. He was a

staple of the station locat-

ed on Main Street in Vel-

va for nearly 40 years

working in the front, sales

and most importantly in

service to patrons of the

station. He semi-retired,

but still found himself at

the station in service to

others until the age of 85.

Gerald was a member of

Oak Valley Lutheran

Church with an unwaver-ing faith his entire life. He

also belonged to the Velva

American Legion. Gerald

served the Mouse River

Farmer’s Union Camp for

many years and capacities

until the flood of 2011.

Gerald loved mowing

lawns for many, filling his

bird feeders and often

sought a visit a with

stranger. He enjoyed rid-

ing around town on one of

his many scooters or

cruising the town in a

freshly traded vehicle. He

will be missed for his

compassion for his family,

friends and his helping

hand to a stranger in

need. He had a smile for

everyone and a twinkle in

his eye. His best advice

was to treat everyone the

way you want to be treat-

ed and the world will be a

much better place. So, in

honor of Jerry, go out and

do something kind today.

We all were blessed to

share in his life!

Gerald is survived by:

his loving wife of 59

years, Mary, Bismarck,

ND; daughter Susie

(Byron) Dinga, Bismarck,

ND; son Greg Johnson,

Minot; granddaughters

Shantel (Chad) Burrer and

Magen (Jordan) Buchholz;

grandsons Chase (Shauna)

Dinga and Nathan (Abbie)

Dinga;

great-grandchildren Olivia

and Caleb, Madilyn, Mar-

ley and Beckett, David

and Josie and Cohen along

with numerous nieces,

nephews and friends.

Gerald was preceded in

death by: his parents, sis-

ter Claryce (Harold) Lind-

quist and brothers Donald

(Alyce) Johnson and

Robert (Lucille) Johnson

along with numerous

brothers and

sisters-in-law.

Celebration of Gerald’s

Life: 2:00 p.m. Friday,

July 2, 2021 at Oak Valley

Lutheran Church, Velva.

Interment: Velva City

Cemetery, Velva, ND

Visitation will be held

one hour prior to the start

of the funeral service at

the church in Velva.

Memorials are preferred

to Oak Valley Lutheran

Church, Domestic

Violence Crisis Center,

Minot or to organizations

dedicated to assisting

those in need.

To view a livestream of

the service or share

memories and con-

dolences please access his

obituary page at

www.thomasfamily

funeralhome.com.