Gertrude “Gert” L. Johnson

Gertude Lucille Anderson Johnson was born February 8, 1927, in rural Arnegard, ND. She was the sixth of seven children born to Harry F. and Maren Josephine Jorgens Anderson. Gert lived through the Great Depression and attended the first six years in a one-room school. In 1940, her family moved to a farm north of Lake Park, MN, and in 1943, Gert graduated from Lake Park High School. Her first job was working at the Red Owl store in Moorhead. She worked for Sornsin Construction Co. in Fargo from 1964-1975 and was payroll administrator at American Crystal Sugar Co. in Moorhead from 1975 until her retirement in 1991. After retirement, she volunteered for several Fargo-Moorhead area non-profits.

Gert married Woodrow Wilson in 1947, they divorced in 1957. She married Rodney Johnson in 1958, and the family moved to Babbitt, MN, where they lived until 1963. They returned to the Lake Park area in 1963 and farmed until Rodney’s death in 1984. Gert moved to Moorhead in 1986.

She was proud to be a lifelong Lutheran, belonging to Zoar Lutheran Church, rural Arnegard, ND, Atlanta Lutheran Church, rural Ulen, MN, The Evangelical Lutheran Church, Babbitt, MN and Dilworth Lutheran, Dilworth, MN. Gert and Rodney were a singing family. They sang duets, and Gert sang with The Sonshine Seven group at Dilworth Lutheran. They also sang The Messiah at most of the churches they belonged to. Gert was also a Stephens Minister.

Gert had a gift for interacting with people and could make a connection with a stranger in just a few minutes of conversation. Her memory and wit were very sharp, and she had a lifelong passion for learning. Her legacy will live on in many wonderful ways.

She is survived by her five children: Paula Kay Burton Johnson, Moorhead; Breck Wilson, Dilworth; Wendy Jerome Baumann, West Fargo; Candace Al Engstrom, Wahpeton; and James Colleen Johnson, Mounds View, MN; 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; sisters Mabel Norgard , Helen Thompson and many nieces and nephews.

Gert was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Harold and Robert Agnes; sisters, Evelyn Babe Wollack and Irene Jack Potter; husband, Rodney, and daughter-in-law, Paula Jo Wilson; brothers-in-law Andrew Norgard and Orlin Thompson.

Gert died on Sunday, May 29, 2016, at age 89 in West Fargo, ND.

In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to New Life Center, Fargo, or Dilworth Lutheran Church.

Special thanks to residents and staff at Serenity Assisted Living for their friendship and great care.

Visitation will be on Thursday, June 2, from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m., in Dilworth Lutheran Church, Dilworth, MN.