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July 23, 1944-July 2, 2026
Minot
Richard "Dick" Duane Johnson, 81, of Minot, North Dakota, passed away peacefully July 2, 2026, at Trinity Homes.
Dick was born on July 23, 1944, the son of Otto and Irene (Laumb) Johnson in Minot. He was raised in Minot with three siblings, attending school and graduating from Minot High School in 1962. After graduation he worked at Minot Restaurant Supply for a few years and then as a clerk at Great Northern Railroad which later became Burlington Northern Railroad for 39 years.
On April 4, 1965, he enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard where he proudly served for the next 24 years and was honorably discharged on April 4, 1989.
On July 15, 1967, he was united in marriage to Dianna Pierson at Zion Lutheran Church in Minot. They welcomed their daughter, Tamera, in 1968 and son, Brent, in 1970, and together they raised their family in Minot.
Dick was strong in his faith and remained a devoted member of Zion Lutheran Church, volunteering and even later working as a custodian there. He also worked as a custodian at Saint John the Apostle Catholic Church for many years and kept both churches and grounds in tip top shape.
His all-time favorite hobby was fishing. Although he never ate a fish he caught, it didn't stop him from fishing all year round. His passion for being outdoors to hunt and fish was passed on to his son and grandsons.
Additional hobbies outside of fishing were woodworking and volunteering. He created beautiful pieces of furniture including storage benches, end tables, recipe boxes, an armoire, and heirloom cribs for the grandkids. He was also passionate about volunteering with the Kiwanis Club of Minot. He never missed an opportunity to take tickets at a basketball game, direct parking at the ND State Fair, ring bells during holidays or anything else that was asked of him. He was always on the move, walking all over Minot, attending church, enjoying plays, theater and Taco Tuesdays with his dear friend and companion, Jacky Smith.
Those who knew Dick will remember his strong work ethic, willingness to help others and his one-of-a-kind sense of humor. His warm smile and quick-witted one-liners brought joy to all who knew and loved him.
Dick is survived by his daughter, Tamera Johnson of Minneapolis, MN; son, Brent (Kim) Johnson of Minot, ND; grandchildren, Christopher (Taylor) Johnson of Watford City, ND, Jace (Sydney) Johnson of Minot, ND, and Rylan Johnson of Minot, ND; ex-wife, Dianna Johnson; dear friend and long-time companion, Jacky Smith; brothers, Erv (Jo Ann) Johnson, Jim (Judy) Johnson; sister, Marilyn (Gene) Bailey; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Irene Johnson.
Memorial Service: Monday, July 27, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Minot.
A private burial will take place at: North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND.
Visitation: One hour prior to the service.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Zion Lutheran Church, Minot.
Published by The Minot Daily News, July 24, 2026.