GORDON JAMES JOHNSON

Gordon James Johnson, Prescott Valley, AZ, formerly of Jessie, ND.

Gordon James Johnson came into this earthly world in a great big snow storm in the home of his parents with his father assisting in the delivery (the moon had to come out so his father called him Moonshine Johnson!) at Griggs County, Romness TWSP near Cooperstown, ND, February 22, 1938 to Olaf M. and Mary Anne (Hovel) Johnson and two siblings “sister Violet” and brother Oliver.  Dr. Almklov arrived the next evening.  He attended Jessie, ND two room grade school and Kensal, ND high school, while living with his brother and family helping on the farm.  He also farmed at Kensal.  In 1963 he was a bartender at the Brass Rail Bar, Jamestown, ND

He was in the National Guards in Devils Lake, ND for 6 years and belonged to Dakota Aires of East Grand Forks, MN.  In 1964 he started road construction with Tennephist, then Collins, Nodak, Mayo, laying the black asphalt on many many ND roads, streets, parking lots, driveway etc.  He met Maxine Bunde and started a relationship.

October 1984 the opportunity came to move to Prescott Valley AZ to work for Asphalt Paving Supply Inc. for a couple of months returning to ND to spend the holidays with our family.

February 1985 they returned to Prescott Valley to try it for a year to see how they liked the warmer weather and remained there.  He retired in 2007 after almost 45 yrs. of road construction. Maxine and Gordon lack 2 months of celebrating 25 years of marriage, September 19, 1993.

Family always came first in his life. He lived for baseball, first the Twins then in 1998 the AZ Diamondbacks came into existence.  Gordon attended their very first game and over the years the couple attended many games in person and watched them on TV.  This is their 20 yrs.  anniversary, they won the World Series in 2001.  He played amateur baseball for Kensal, and with his older brother by 9 yrs. Oliver, at Red Willow; they went to the state tournament several times.

He loved 4^th of July parades and fireworks, playing cards, rolling dice, teasing and tickling nieces and nephews.  He liked drinking Budweiser (there was no other beer).  He had a neat sense of humor.  Loved cats raising 3 of them, the last one living 18½ yrs. and really loved to tease them.  Last pet is a small dog Daisy, taking her for a ride every afternoon.   He would spend 5 to 6 hours on the computer most days; watch TV (mostly westerns, ball games and some game shows).  He would ride his Husky lawn mower when needed.  He had lots of friends to see in ND when he came back to visit.

He is survived by his wife; Maxine, whom misses him dearly!; son David (Nancy) Bunde; grandchildren; Kevin Bunde, Jacob Bunde, Sarah Bunde; sister, Violet Zentz; sister-in-law, Nadine Johnson; nieces, Marlene (Dennis) Dahl, Mary Lou Zentz, Michelle (Larry) Zentz, Margery (Dave) Johnston, Mavis (Douglas) Brown, May Ann Johnson, Linda (Fred) Huber; nephews, Michael Zentz, Thomas (Gayle) Johnson, Michael Johnson and several cousins in ND, NB and CA.

Preceding Gordon in death were his parents, two infant brothers, Herman and Jimmie; brother, Oliver; in-laws, Ole and Irene Olson, nephews, Pat and Jimmie Johnson and Douglas Brown Jr.

He did not like cold weather or shoveling snow.  So God saw to it he had a warm 90 degree day to leave our earthly world on July 11, 2018 at Dalhart, TX, due to a car accident on Hwy 54, traveling to ND to see friend and family.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 10:00 am in St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Jessie, ND.  Interment will be at the McVille Cemetery at 2 pm.