Karen Johnson

Lake Metigoshe

Karen Miller Johnson, 82, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, the 20th of February surrounded by her family at Pensacola Beach, Florida. Karen was born on August 3, 1940 to Daniel (Harry) and Hazel Miller in Rugby, North Dakota. She grew up on the family farm and began her grade school education in a one room school near Willow City, North Dakota. In 1958, she graduated from Willow City Public School and then went on to earn her nursing degree at Minot State University, Minot, North Dakota in 1962.

In September 1962, she married her high school sweetheart, Ardel Johnson. They moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota while her husband finished his degree at the University of North Dakota. During that time, Karen was a nurse at St. Alexis Hospital in Grand Forks. In the summer of 1963 after Ardel’s graduation, they moved to Seattle, Washington. While in Seattle, Karen worked as a nurse at Riverton General Hospital. In 1965, they moved to the San Francisco Bay area where she continued her nursing career at Eden Hospital in Castro Valley, California as a staff nurse and shortly after as a charge nurse. In 1968, they moved from Castro Valley to Walnut Creek, California where she took a nursing position at Kaiser Hospital in Walnut Creek. During this time, two lovely daughters, Andrea and Amy, were born and became the pride and joy of her life. In 1978, the family moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where Karen continued her nursing career. In 1983, it was time to move again-this time to Gulf Breeze, Florida. Karen decided at that time she was not going to continue nursing. Instead, she wanted to own a business so in 1988, she purchased a Tastee Freeze franchise which she operated until 1994. Her determination, strong work ethic, organizational skills and savvy business mind made this venture not only financially, but personally rewarding. She was able to engage with many different people each day. For all who knew her, she loved good conversations whether one on one or on the phone. In 2004, after her husband’s retirement they made the decision to retire at Lake Metigoshe, North Dakota. Over the many years, she handled all the disruptions of buying homes, selling homes, leaving friends each time with class, as difficult as each move was.

Karen was a generous, compassionate, strong independent patriotic woman who loved her country and the community she lived in. All the traditional things of America were high on her list of priorities: Memorial Day services, Fourth of July Parades, extended family get togethers and family Thanksgiving dinners. Her faith was built on a strong foundation and throughout her life she served the Lord with joy in many churches and organizations including director of nursery, children’s Awana programs, numerous offices in Christian’s Women’s, continuous Bible studies and currently supporting a senior’s ministry. Making children and seniors happy while learning was an inspiration to her. Mentoring and guiding her daughters and grandsons on the importance of service to others gave her great satisfaction. She was especially excited to introduce them to her Norwegian heritage, lefse and rommegrot were winners, but she never succeeded in bringing them to a lutefisk dinner.

Karen is survived and forever loved by her husband, Ardel, Lake Metigoshe, North Dakota, daughter Andrea (Mark) Hassell, Pace, Florida and grandsons Cody and Cameron, both of Pace and Amy Johnson of Pensacola, Florida, two sisters, Marjorie Anderson, Devils Lake, North Dakota and Verna Bower, Minot, North Dakota and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She is proceeded in death by her parents, Daniel and Hazel Miller, a brother, Hubert, and two sisters, Geraldine Hill and Jean Perron.

Funeral services will be held at Grace Lutheran Brethren Church, Bottineau North Dakota at 11:00 am on the 13th of April. Visitation will be at Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm on the 12th of April. The service will be livestreamed for the public to view on the Grace Lutheran Brethren Church website, www.gracelbcbottineau.org.

The family wants to thank everyone for their concern and prayer support during this difficult time.

Published by The Minot Daily News, April 11, 2023.