John Richard Samuelson, 80, Minot, North Dakota, longtime owner of Samuelsons Shoe Store on Main Street, died on Friday, January 2, 2015.

John, the son of Harlow and Maxine (Hawbaker) Samuelson, was born on March 1, 1934 in Minot, where the family resided in the downtown area. John graduated from Minot High School in 1952, enrolled at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, and joined the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity there. Graduating four years later with a degree in Business Administration, he married Barbara Dahl of Minot on June 10, 1956.

John joined the U.S. Navy a short time later, enrolling in Naval Officers Candidate School at Newport, Rhode Island. Commissioned an ensign, he was assigned duty on a sea-going staff embarked on the command ship USS Estes, home ported at San Diego. John and Barbara adopted as their new home the beautiful island town of Coronado, adjacent to the naval base and just a ten minute ferry ride from San Diego.

Over the next three years John made a number of naval cruises to the Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, and British Columbia. In 1959 he deployed to the western Pacific where the ship made ports of call including the Philippines, Taiwan, Okinawa, Hong Kong, South Korea, and several ports of Japan. In 1960 he was released from active duty and began work with Bank of America in California.

Recalled to active duty in 1961 during the time of the Berlin Crisis, John rejoined the fleet as communications officer and deck officer on the destroyer USS Tingey. He again deployed on an eventful cruise to the western Pacific where his ship performed plane guard duty for the aircraft carriers USS Hancock, USS Bennington, and the then new USS Kitty Hawk. Upon returning stateside, he resumed his job with the bank.

Two sons, Paul and Johnny, were born to John and Barbara while living in California. The family, thereafter, returned to Minot where John operated the family shoe store, a business established in Minot's early days by his grandfather, John Walfrid Samuelson, in 1899.

John's associations and memberships in Minot included the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce, vice chairman of the Ward County Red Cross chapter from 1969 to 1971 and chairman from 1971 to 1973, member of the Magic Fund Screening Committee, president and long-time member of the Minot Lions Club, First Lutheran Church Council member, the Minot City Planning Commission, member of the Minot State University Foundation Board, president of the Downtown Business and Professional Association, life member of the Fraternal Order of Elks #1089, and volunteer at the Norsk Hostfest. John's childhood home, known as the Samuelson House, is now an historical building operated by the Ward County Historical Society. The house is located in Pioneer Village at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds in Minot.

After his retirement in 1994, John and Barbara traveled extensively throughout the United States and enjoyed the summer months at their cabin on Lake Metigoshe.

John's family includes his wife, Barbara, Minot; Sons: Paul Samuelson, Boise ID and Johnny (Mary) Samuelson, Arden Hills, MN; Grandchildren: Hanna and Heidi Samuelson, Arden Hills, MN; Aunts: Vada Kingsley, Bismarck, ND, Marylou Krause, Fessenden, ND, and Ileen Campbell, Spokane WA; Cousins: Wally (Winnie) Hankla and family, Minot; the Hawbaker family of Portal; Sister-in-law Marilyn Anderson, Minot; Brother-in-law: Gary Dahl, San Jose, CA; Nieces: Jennifer Johnson, Minot, Becky Polk, Winter Park, FL, and Sheri Anderson, Mt. Prospect, IL; Nephew: Mark Anderson, Harrisburg, PA.

John was preceded in death by his Parents; Parents-in-law: Manuel and Elsie Dahl of Minot; Uncles: Ansel and Arnold Samuelson of Minot; Aunt: Alice (Walt) Hankla of Minot; Uncle: Dale (Gladys) Hawbaker of Portal; and Brother-in-law: Robert W. Anderson of Minot.

Celebration of the life of John Richard Samuelson: Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at 11:00 AM at First Lutheran Church, Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.
Visitation: Tuesday, January 6, 2015 from 2-6 PM at Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to First Lutheran Church Foundation, Minot State University Foundation, the Struthers Parkinson's Center Foundation, or the Ward County Historical Society.