Jerald Dale Johnson , 77, Minot, died Thursday, August 25, 2011 at Trinity Hospital in Minot.

Jerald was born July 17, 1934 in Devils Lake, ND, the son of Nels and Irene (Scobba) Johnson, one of 13 children. He was raised in rural Rock Lake until the age of 11 when he went to live at the ND Children's Home in Fargo with 6 other siblings, including an identical twin. At age 12 he went to live in the foster home of Wesley and Martha Juntunen on a farm outside of Rolla, ND. Jerald enlisted in the Air Force in December 1953 along with his twin brother Jerome.

In September 1954, he married Marilyn Christofferson and together they had 4 children.

While in the service, Jerald traveled to South America, Central America, Asia, Australia, lived with his wife and children in Buzzard's Bay MA, West Palm Beach, FL, Albany, GA, San Antonio, TX, Okinawa, Japan and retired from Minot AFB after 20 years of service on December 31, 1973. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam and received the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

After retirement from the military, Jerald worked as a driver for Purolator Courier, a mechanic at Krebsbach, manager of the VFW Club, and apartment manager for IMM. Recently he worked for Ward County as a seasonal employee.

Jerald was a dedicated member of the Veteran's of Foreign Wars Post 753, and was Past Post, District and State Commander in addition to serving in numerous national appointments. He was also a member of the VFW Cootie Pup Tent 12 where he was Past Commander and Past State Grand Commander. Jerald was a member of the American Legion Post 26. In 1986 he and his wife Marilyn received the Mr. and Mrs. Eagle Award from the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie 2376. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church. She died July 3, 1999.

Jerald loved bowling, pool, darts and golf and won several awards during his lifetime. He continued to enjoy these activities later in life by playing video games with his children and grandchildren. Jerald was known as "Papa J" to his great-grandchildren who loved his good-natured ways. He will be missed by his friends at Kroll's Diner, where he ate lunch every weekday, his bingo-playing friends at the Blind Duck, and most of all by his family whom he always encouraged and inspired.

His loving family includes : son, Kenneth (Terry) Johnson of Surrey; daughters Alisa (Martin) Dahl of Minot, Sharla (Richard) Huls of Sartell, MN, Tania (Al) Denning of Kent, WA; grandchildren Chris (Brittany) Dahl and Erica Dahl of Minot, Stefanie Huls of Sartell, MN, Aaron (Aimee) Denning and Amber Denning of Kent, WA, Jenna Johnson and Julie Johnson of Surrey, ND; 4 great-grandchildren; brothers Jerome (Margaret) Johnson of Minot, Jack Willson of Jamestown, ND, Jerry (Mary Jean)Willson of Rogers, ND, Art (Debbie) Bakken of Grand Forks, ND, Craig Johnson of Rugby, ND, Nels (Alana) Sneve of Kendrick, ID, Greg (Linda) Folk of Lewiston, ID; sisters Judy (Don) Larsen of Scappose, OR, Susan Folk and Irene Koethke of Lewiston, ID; foster brothers and sisters Wesley Juntunen and Curtis (Heather) Juntunen of Rolla, ND, David (Susan) Juntunen of Amidon, ND, Ruth (Dale) Overton of Cando, ND, and Dorothy (Lee) Lipp of Grand Forks, ND.

Jerald was preceded in death by his parents, wife, sister Janet, brother Lonnie Odegaard, grandchild Jeric Johnson and great-grandchild Kasen King.

Funeral service : Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. in First Presbyterian Church, Minot.
Interment : Veteran's Section of Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.
Visitation: Tuesday from 2:00-7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the V.F.W Post #753 Flood Relief Fund.