Harold Johnson, 86
Harold Johnson, 86, former Plaza, N.D.,-area farmer and cattleman, Mervyn Harold (M.H.) Johnson passed away at his home in Dalton Gardens on June 20, 2013. Mr. Johnson had been in declining health in recent years as a result of strokes.
Harold was born on Sept. 23, 1926, at Plaza, N.D., to Arne and Della (Disserud) Johnson and was raised on the family farm near Tagus and attended school there. Later the family moved back to the Plaza area where Harold worked on the farm as well as for area neighbors. Harold loved farm life and became accomplished with all things that went along with it, be it plant, animal or mechanical.
In 1947, the family moved to Post Falls where they owned a dairy. The family later moved to Coeur d’Alene and then Dalton Gardens where Harold helped on the family dairy. In 1950 Harold worked for a contractor on the dismantling of the Farragut Navel Training Station on Lake Pend Oreille. In 1951 Harold went to work for the Ohio Match Saw Mill at Huetter where he ran the edger.
In 1952, he met the love of his life, Bernida Moate of Coeur d’Alene. They were married April 27, 1953 at St Thomas Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene. They lived in Coeur d’Alene where his two sons were born.
In 1955, Harold moved back to North Dakota to take over the farm of a widowed previous neighbor, Mrs. Fanny Pease, where he resumed his life on the land. Harold and Bernida made their home there for the next 36 years where they raised their family which now included four daughters. In the early years in addition to raising Durham wheat, oats and barley in the summer months, Harold would do carpentry or cabinet work for neighbors during the winter. In the 1960s he leased pasture land and began raising stock cattle, eventually specializing in Simmental/Angus-Hereford Crosses. For many years he also owned and operated a dairy and sold the milk to Winger Cheese of Towner, N.D. In addition to his farming activities Harold was also the Oslo Township assessor in Mountrail County for many years.
In 1993, Harold and Bernida retired from farming/ranching and built their retirement home on family land in Dalton Gardens. He later built a shop where he enjoyed wood working and cabinet making. But most of all, Harold enjoying spending time with his family and friends.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents, sister Doris Johnson, brother Clayton Johnson and daughter Cindy.
He is survived by wife Bernida, Dalton Gardens; sons, Mervyn L. Johnson, Coeur d’Alene and Loren (Maggie) Johnson, Hayden Lake; daughters, Andrea (Myron) Sanders, Beaverton, Ore., Sonja Enger (Larry Walker), Coeur d’Alene and Julie (Tim) Moslander, Butte, Mont.; and nine grandchildren and numerous cousins.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at St. Thomas Catholic Church. Yates Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements.