Morris Johnson

Morris Johnson passed

away peacefully at

Bethany Retirement Home

in Fargo on June 12, at the

age of 98. He was born in

Bottineau on March 24,

1923, to Clarence and Lil-

lian (Boettcher) Johnson

and raised in the nearby

town of Gardena. After

high school graduation he

earned a standard teach-

ing certificate from Minot

State College. He went on

to teach in Van Hook and

Harvey for a combined 10

years. While teaching in

Van Hook, not only did he

coach, but he also met his

love Helen Jean Ellis and

on March 9, 1945, they

married.

In 1953 he and Helen

Jean and two children

moved to New Town, a

town by the Missouri

River being created be-

cause of the Garrison Dam

project. While living in

New Town, Morris and

Helen Jean had 5 more

children. Morris contri-

buted greatly to the

development of this new

community. He operated

the Standard Oil Service

Station for twenty years

and then he and his wife,

Helen Jean built and ran

H & M Liquor. He was an

active member at Bethel

Lutheran Church and

served the congregation in

several capacities.

Morris and Helen Jean

moved to Stanley in 1997.

After the passing of Helen

Jean in 1999, Morris then

moved into the Prairie

Host motel and became

the onsite maintenance

man until the motel sold

2006. In the later years,

Morris eventually moved

to Bethany Retirement

Home in Fargo where he

enjoyed telling stories and

playing cards.

He is survived by his

daughters Lynda Morris of

Durango, CO, Sherry

(LaVern) Laib of McClu-

sky, ND, a daughter-in

law Marcia Johnson of

Fargo, ND, and a

son-in-law Roger Rogstad

of Fargo, ND. 12

grandchildren, 19 great

grandchildren and 2

great-great grandchildren

along with many nieces

and nephews.

He is preceded in death

by his wife, four sons

Donovan, Barry, Corry,

Lonny, and daughter

Shelly Rogstad.

Cards to the family and

donations in memory of

Morris may be sent to PO

Box 7304, Fargo, ND

58106. Services are pend-

ing for a later date.