Johanne M. "Jo" Andrist, 71, Deering and formerly of Sawyer and Palermo died on Friday, April 27, 2012 in a Minot hospital.

Johanne Marguerite Wright was born on July 16, 1940 on her family's eighty acre homestead in Major County of Oklahoma near Isabella, OK to John and Barbara (Johnson) Wright. Jo's father worked any jobs he could find and was often gone for days, leaving her mother to care for the chickens, hogs, milk cows and crops. Jo's first important role in life was to care for her younger brothers. Thus, began her lifelong journey of caring for others. When Jo was eight, her parents began custom harvesting. Because Jo's mom and dad often worked together, her role was to prepare meals for the threshing crew, which no doubt contributed to her masterful cooking prowess.

As her parents custom harvesting operation took them further north, they settled in the Deering, ND area when her parents purchased some land in 1953. Jo graduated from Deering High School when she was only 16 years of age and attended Minot State University where she received her standard teaching certificate. Her first teaching assignment led her to Grenora where she met and fell in love with fellow teacher Franklin "Butch" Andrist. Jo and Butch were married in Deering on August 18, 1963.

Jo and Butch taught school in Chaffee, ND while he pursued his Master's Degree in Education at NDSU. In 1965, Jo and Butch moved to Palermo where she taught elementary school and he served as Superintendant. In 1966, son CJ was born and in 1968, shortly before son Jared was born, they moved to Sawyer where Butch was Superintendant. Daughter Melissa was born in 1970 and son Justin in 1972. Jo spent her six years in Sawyer raising her family and in 1975, they moved to Deering where she taught grade school and Butch served as Superintendant. For all of her four children, Jo became "Mrs. Andrist" instead of "Mom" for a couple years because she was their teacher in grades three and four. Jo continued her education while teaching in Deering, receiving her Bachelor's Degree and Principal endorsement from Minot State University.

Jo taught and also farmed with her husband in Deering until her retirement in 1994. Butch died on June 3, 1996 and Jo continued to live on her farmstead, embracing her new role in life as "Gramma Jo". Jo was proud and at peace on her farmstead, into which she had invested so much of herself. She loved nature and was especially fond of gardening and flowers. Her friends in the Petal Pushers Garden Club was a source of joy to her. She cherished her family, friends and above all, her grandchildren. Jo's faith was always important to her and continued to grow. She was a member of the Deering Lutheran Church for nearly 37 years. Jo was very welcoming, accepting and forgiving. Her legacy will be "Here is my Heart".

Johanne's loving family includes her children: Melissa (Rick Stevenson), C.J. (Corrina Lavallie) and Jared (Pam), all of Minot and Justin (Debbie) of Christchurch, New Zealand; grandchildren: Steven, Emily, Kelsea, Jesse, Samuel, Ceri, and Jacob Andrist; step grandchildren: Cody, Warren, Jodi, Sheena, Sasha, Tylor and Holden; step great grandchildren: Lilly, Kaj, Kinah, Dustin, Nathanial, Christian, Ilijah and Jade; siblings: Charlene (Steve) Haskins, J.R. (Dianne) Wright and Wayne Wright; sisters-in-law: Sheila Wright, Marlys (John) Elliott, Kay Andrist and Ardith Andrist; brother-in-law: John Andrist and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins who were all so very special to her.

Johanne was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers-in-law: Cal and Willie; sister-in-law: Elaine and step great granddaughter: Leighanna.

Funeral Service: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. in Bethany Lutheran Church Minot.
Graveside Service: Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in the Deering Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Visitation: Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home Minot.
Memorials: In lieu of plants and flowers memorials are preferred to the Deering Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund, American Cancer Society or the donors choice.