FLORENCE JOHNSON

FLORENCE JOHNSON Florence Johnson, age 89, passed away peacefully Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck, surrounded by her loving family. Florence Constance (Loge) Johnson was born near Cooperstown, ND on December 31, 1926, one of four children born to John and Susan (Klubben) Loge. She grew up on the family farm while attending rural country school and graduated from Cooperstown High School. Florence attended Valley City Teachers College earning her Standard Teaching Certificate and returned home to teach school in Cooperstown. Her love for children and teaching eventually lead her to the love of her life, Arthur K. Johnson, who was a teacher and Superintendent of Schools from Hannaford, ND. The two were united in marriage on August 19, 1960. In the years to follow, God blessed them with many things, but their greatest blessings came in 1963 with the arrival of their daughter, Nancy Susanne, and again in 1965 with their son, Gary Karl. Florence enjoyed being a mom and shared her love of music with her children through piano lessons and encouraging them to participate in school through band and choir, attending their concerts throughout the years as well as volunteering her skills as accompanist for many school music contests. She was a dedicated piano teacher instilling her love of the ivory keys to hundreds of students over the years in Cooperstown, Hannaford, Turtle Lake, Carrington and Underwood, all in ND. Florence could often be heard playing the piano at home, church or wherever a pianist was needed and was a sought after accompanist as she could play any song in any key, with or without music, a rare gift indeed. She was church organist/pianist at Saron Church, rural Cooperstown; Calvary Baptist Church, Carrington; Underwood Baptist Church, Underwood; and Cornerstone Community Church, Cooperstown. Florence also enjoyed attending the sporting events of her son and grandchildren, often traveling many miles along with her husband, Arthur, offering words of encouragement and praise. She kept busy in her spare time enjoying her hobbies of flower gardening, oil painting and china painting. Florence and Arthur retired to Cooperstown, ND in 1987. They resided on Florence's beautiful family farm, nestled peacefully in the Sheyenne River Valley, where she spent much of her retirement baking, caring for her extravagant flower gardens around the farm yard, and volunteering at the Griggs County Museum alongside her husband. She was a committed member of Cornerstone Community Church as a dedicated pianist/organist. Florence loved deeply and was loved even more so by all who knew her. This is the woman who knew what a deep rooted love Arthur had for the MN Twins, so of course, it only made sense to become a NY Yankees fan herself. She always knew how to push his buttons so perfectly, and he loved her dearly for it. January 5th, 2016, exactly one month after he passed away, two halves were finally whole again. Her sense of humor will be missed, but her memory along with the legacy she built will forever be carried on by those still here, waiting until we're all together again. She is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Jeff) Leidholm of Hensler, ND; son, Gary (Whitney) Johnson of Helendale, CA; three granddaughters Kayla (Luke) Wolf; Kadie Beckman and Kelcie Beckman, all of Bismarck, ND; great grandsons Aidan Arthur Beutler, Sutton Wolf and great granddaughter Wolf expected in March, 2016, all of Bismarck, ND. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, A.K. Johnson; her parents, John and Susan Loge; sister Sylvia Loge; and brothers Irvin and Manford Loge. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 10:30 am at the Cornerstone Community Church, Cooperstown, ND. Visitation will be Friday, January 15, 2016 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at the Quam-Plaisted-Cushman Funeral Home in Cooperstown, and one hour before services at the church. A Prayer Service will be Friday at 7:00 pm in the Funeral Home. Interment will immediately follow the service on Saturday, in the Saron Cemetery, rural Cooperstown, ND, weather permitting. Memorials may be given in honor of Florence to the Cooperstown Bible Camp or Cornerstone Community Church.