Lloyd Wilfred Johnson, 97, Minot and formerly of Ruso died on Friday, November 15, 2013 in the Souris Valley Care Center - Velva.

Lloyd was born on August 28, 1916 in Ruso to John and Hilda (Olson) Johnson. He was reared on the family farm southwest of Ruso and educated at the Ruso School until the eighth grade, but God had a plan for him elsewhere. He enrolled in the Lutheran bible Institute in Minneapolis where he received, what he called high school education with Jesus Christ as the Superintendant. This was one of the greatest times in his life, and he made many friends and learned a lot about his faith. He graduated in May of 1939.

Lloyd was united in marriage to Olive Melom on November 16, 1940 by Olive's father, Pastor August Melom and Pastor O.J. Skrudland, in First Lutheran Church - Ruso. They made their home on a farm north of Ruso and later moved to their home place south of Ruso. Lloyd was a small grains farmer, a dairyman and also raised beef cattle. He was able to piece together and repair a lot of his equipment and machinery with a mechanical knowledge that was self taught. They retired from farming in 1989 and moved to Minot to be closer to Olive's doctors. Olive passed away on May 11, 1992. Lloyd had continued to make his home in Minot where he volunteered at Trinity Hospital for twenty years. He enjoyed this a lot, because of the people he worked with and the people he met. He helped in the Physical Therapy and Admissions areas and he received his 6000 hour pin in May of 2012. He moved to the Souris Valley Assisted Living Center in Velva in April of 2012 and to the Souris Valley Care Center in May of 2013.

Lloyd served on the Otis Township Board for many years, seeing many changes and many different people who came and went in his years at Ruso. He enjoyed sharing stories about Ruso in the "Good Old Days." Lloyd served on the church council and cemetery board of First Lutheran Church - Ruso, where he was a member his entire life, until the church closed in 1997. He held many different positions, but knew that to keep God's work moving forward, he had to stay involved in his church in whatever capacity he could. Lloyd and Olive were asked to sing for many funerals as well as at area nursing homes and in the Butte Men's Chorus.

Lloyd lived for Jesus Christ and he and Olive raised their eight children to follow God in all that they do in life. He was a former member of Gideons, distributing New Testaments to whomever would accept one. God was the center of Lloyd's life and he lived for him all the days of his long life.

He especially enjoyed hunting, fishing, auction sales, scrapbooking and his large chicken collection.

Lloyd's loving family includes his daughters: Marlene (Delane) Kritsky of Pocatello ID, Loretta Martinsen of Garrison, Marlys (Larry) Sundbakken of Minot, Eleanor (LaVerne) Berg of Logan, Doreen (Tim) Schatz of Butte; sons: Glenn (Debbie) Johnson of Wahpeton and Wayne (Tenley) Johnson of Max; daughter-in-law: Diane Johnson of Ruso; twenty-one grandchildren; forty-one great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; sisters: Bernice Melom of Minneapolis and Norma Austreim of Williston; sisters-in-law: Leona Johnson of Minot and Judy Johnson of Ruso and numerous nieces, nephews and other family and friends.

Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, wife, son: Milfred, son-in-law: Melvin Martinsen and brothers: Lester and Marvin Johnson.

Celebration of the Life of Lloyd Johnson: Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. in Oak Valley Lutheran Church - Velva.
Interment: Ruso Cemetery
Visitation: Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the Camp of the Cross, Souris Valley Care Center volunteers, Valley View Manor of Velva or Gideon's International.