Herbert Thomson "Herb" Johnson, 82, of Minot and formerly of Grafton died on Sunday, June 13, 2010, in a Minot hospital.

Herb was born on January 15, 1928, in Grafton, ND to Harold and Edna (Thomson) Johnson. He was reared and educated there and graduated from Grafton High School in 1946. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on August 15, 1946; was stationed at Ft. Eustis, VA in the finance department and served until his honorable discharge as a Corporal on April 22, 1949. He returned to the Grafton area where he was employed as a construction and farm worker. He attended NDSU 1949/50 and Aaker's Business College 1950, prior to joining the National Guard on January 1, 1951. He was activated during the Korean Conflict and served as a Master Sergeant in the Headquarters Company of the First Battalion of the Ninth Infantry until September 9, 1952. Herb received the Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars and United Nations Service Medal. Recently, he participated in a WWII Roughrider Honor Flight to Washington D.C.

Herb married Jacqueline Holt on March 6, 1953 in Grafton. He returned to Aaker's Business College and was employed at the International Harvester implement dealership in Grand Forks. He continued his education at UND from 1955 until 1958, graduating with a BS degree in Business Administration. He started his career with the IRS in Sioux City, Iowa in 1958. He accepted a position with the Social Security Administration beginning in Kansas City, Missouri from 1958 to 1960, Fargo from 1960 to 1961, and in Minot from 1961 until retirement in 1983.

After retiring, Herb worked with the Minot Hockey Boosters as off ice coordinator and office manager from 1983 to 1995. He worked for junior hockey with the Minot Americans and the Minot Top Guns. He helped with the Minot State University hockey program in many positions. For many years he was a goal judge for Minot High School hockey games.

Herb was honored as the first inductee of the Minot Hockey Boosters Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the North Dakota Hockey Hall of Fame in Jamestown in 1995. Herb was inducted into the Minot High School Athletic Hall of Fame in October of 2009. These were for development, organization and administrative talents related to starting and nurturing hockey in Minot, to its current thriving status. He was the Grand Marshall of the ND State Fair Parade.

Herb was a member of the Moose Lodge, the VFW serving as Commander, District Commander of the Military Order of the Cootie, and a Color Guard participant, the American Legion as Senior Vice Commander and a member of the Eagles Club. He was involved with the local chapter of the United Commercial Travelers and served as the Grand Counselor of the ND-MN chapter. He was a life member of the PTA.

Herb was involved in coaching youth baseball when his sons were playing and junior golf. Herb enjoyed golfing and played for several years at Souris Valley Golf Course and enjoyed playing courses in the communities around Minot. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church and in his later years enjoyed singing with the choir. Herb was an avid reader and a frequent visitor of the Minot Public Library. He also enjoyed aquacize and card playing.

Herb's loving family includes his wife of 57 years Jacqueline: children; Dr. Craig (Connie) Johnson of Bismarck, Barbara (Rafael) Mendez of Maple Valley, WA, David (Nancy) Johnson of Minot, Doug (Nancy) Johnson of Omaha, NE, and Phil (Vera) Johnson of Glendive, AZ: grandchildren; Rachel Mendez, Ian Johnson, Gwynie Johnson, Samantha Johnson and Ella Johnson: sister; Edna Hinman of Kansas; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Herb was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Kristi Beth, sister, Janet Levy and brother, Harold Johnson.

Funeral Service: Monday, June 21, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in Christ Lutheran Church, Minot.
Prayer Service: Sunday at 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Interment: North Dakota Veterans Cemetery-rural Mandan.
Visitation: Sunday from noon until 5:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials: preferred to Minot Junior Golf or Minot Hockey Boosters.