Jacqueline "Jackie" Johnson, 80, Minot, passed away Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at Medcenter One in Bismarck.

Jackie was born February 21, 1931, in Grafton, North Dakota, the daughter of Selmer "Sam" and Ruth (Hagen) Holt. She was raised and educated in Grafton and graduated from Grafton High School in 1949. She was the oldest of four children and grew up on a farm, nestled along the Park River, northwest of Grafton. She worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Grafton and Grand Forks as a phone operator in her younger years.

Jackie was united in marriage to Herbert "Herb" Johnson on March 6, 1953 in Grafton. They made their home in Grand Forks, where she continued to work for NW Bell for five years. In 1958, they moved to Sioux City, IA for a short time, before moving to Independence, MO.

In 1960, they moved to Fargo, where she was employed as a secretary for a local Ford dealership. In 1961, the family moved to Minot, where they raised their five children. After most of her children had graduated from high school she went back to work for Minot Public School system as a lunchroom supervisor at Bel Air Elementary School when she retired in 2001. She was a loving wife and after a marriage of 57 years, Herb passed away on June 13, 2010.

Jackie was a longtime member of Christ Lutheran Church, Minot, where she was active in the Church Circle. She was also active in the V.F.W Auxiliary, Eagles Auxiliary and PEO.

Jackie grew up on a farmstead outside of Grafton that had a big red barn. During any drives or vacations, she was always pointing out the red barns and especially enjoyed the red barn calendar one of her children gave her each year for Christmas.

When her children were growing up, Jackie was a strong advocate and supporter of all them. She was actively involved in PTA, a girl scout leader, as well as a youth baseball and hockey mom. She was a member of a craft club and probably one of the original church ladies of Christ Lutheran.

Jackie loved to dance, garden, go to garage sales, play bingo, take trips to the casino, and collect pottery and antiques. She was a life-long avid bridge player playing into her 80's. She liked covered bridges and taking country drives to see that great North Dakota sunset over a sunflower field. She enjoyed reading both books and magazines and cutting out coupons or finding a new recipe to try. She would be heard to say when invited for a family gathering, "What should I bring?" or "I'll bring a hotdish." She enjoyed watching all of her boys play hockey and then later listening to it on the radio when she couldn't go to the games. Jackie and her husband enjoyed hockey so much that they billeted hockey players after their children had grown and moved away. Jackie's greatest joy was her family and she particularly enjoyed holiday gatherings with her husband, children and grandchildren.

Jackie was a very caring, supportive and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister & sister-in-law, aunt and friend.

Her loving family includes: children, Craig (Connie) Johnson, Bismarck, Barb (Rafael) Mendez, Maple Valley, WA, David (Nancy) Johnson, Minot, Doug (Nancy) Johnson, Omaha, NE, Phil (Vera) Johnson, Glendale, AZ; grandchildren, Rachel Mendez, Samantha and Ella Johnson, Ian and Gwynie Johnson; sisters, Arlene (Lon, deceased) Stenerson, Grafton, ND and Marge (John, deceased) Loos, Fargo, ND; brother Bill (Pat) Holt, Rochester, WA; and many nieces and nephews.

Jackie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and daughter, Kristi Beth.

Celebration of Life service : 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Minot.
Interment : ND Veterans Cemetery, rural Mandan, ND.
Visitation : At the request of the family, there will be no reviewal, however friends may sign a memorial register book on Friday, February 10, 2012 from 2-7pm in the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials: preferred to Christ Lutheran Church, Minot or Breast Cancer Awareness.