Jim Johnson

Bismarck

Jim Johnson, 78, former longtime owner and operator of Elite Studio in Minot, died peacefully on May 2, 2025 at a memory care facility in Bismarck.

Born Sept. 1, 1946, James LeRoy Johnson was the mischievous son of Axel and Audrey (Frank) Johnson, a depot agent and post office clerk. He was raised in Glenburn with his brother, Wayne.

Following his high school graduation, Jim attended Valley City State University, where he met his beloved Kathleen Fercho. After Jim served in Korea for three years with the U.S. Army, they married in 1970.

For several years they lived in Kenmare, where he and his brother launched Vanguard Studio. Then the couple moved to Minot, where Jim started Elite Studio and continued his business partnership with his brother. In 1980, he and Kathy, who taught at Nedrose Elementary School, adopted their daughter Jennifer from Korea.

Jim had only one goal in life – to make people smile. He played countless pranks over the years (like sending a caragana bush to the homes of unsuspecting friends) and it was often hard to tell when he was kidding, earning him the nickname “Honest Jim.”

He enjoyed embarrassing his daughter in public whenever he got the chance (he barked at kids out the window as he drove her to grade school), never settled for normal (he set up a tipi in the backyard for her sleepover) and found joy every day in delighting Kathy. They shared an extraordinary love until her death from cancer in 2012.

When Jim wasn’t behind a camera, he was running around town in a cool car or headed outdoors. He was happiest surrounded by nature, whether scuba diving in the Cayman Islands, exploring the Northwest Territories, or hunting in North Dakota.

In his late 30s, he and a friend built a log cabin in the White Earth Valley, telling wild tales and spending long nights at Poncho’s.

Rendezvous represented a significant part of his life and helped him build a vast network of eclectic friends, ranging from buck-skinners to businessmen, hitchhikers to ranchers, and anyone who had a good story at Trapper’s.

His profession and hobbies led him to be a true connector — he could walk into any room in the state and know someone from somewhere.

Jim loved Native American culture, possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of wildlife and treasured his antique gun collection (he could tell you every make and model in the TV show “Gunsmoke,” and often would).

A great ambassador of North Dakota, he loved its history and its people, and dedicated much of his life volunteering in civic groups, his church and supporting wildlife organizations.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Johnson (Chris Bjorke) of Salem, OR; companion Rita Kopp of Mandan, who remained by his side until the end; sister-in-law Sharon Johnson of Minot; brother-in-law Dean (Eva) Fercho and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Kathy, brother Wayne and parents Axel and Audrey Johnson.

Celebration of the Life of Jim Johnson: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 11 a.m. in Vincent United Methodist Church – Minot. In lieu of a visitation, participants can share stories about Jim at the service.

Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens – Minot.

Memorials are preferred to the Vincent United Methodist Church – Minot.

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Published by The Minot Daily News, May 8, 2025.