ALFRED J. JOHNSTON

Alfred J. Johnston, 78 of Devils Lake, ND passed away early Sunday morning, October 6, 2013 at the Heartland Care Center with his loving family at his side. Mass of the Resurrection for Alfred will be held on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Matthew Kraemer will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Wednesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Serving as Casket Bearers will be Alfred’s grandsons, Chet Berg, Paul Berg, Wes Berg, Lee Berg, Brandon MacArthur, Tory Johnston, Brett Johnston and Mathew Weed. Reading the Scriptures will be Dean Berg and Jolie Johnston. Presenting the Offertory Gifts will be Alfred’s great granddaughters, Hallie Fritel, Aliyah Iverson, Payton Johnston and Ashlyn Johnston. Music will be provided by Sherry Kurtz, Tom Burckhard and JoDee Lagein. Alfred Jr., son of Alfred Sr. and Eleanor (Stoeser) Johnston was born April 10, 1935 in Devils Lake. He attended Pelican Country School and graduated from St. Mary’s High School. Alfred was united in marriage to Vernice Henke on September 11, 1953 in Devils Lake. They established their home in the Devils Lake and Penn area where he worked for Jerome Wholesale for a few years and moved on to installing carpet and linoleum until taking over the family farm in 1978. He continued farming until a stroke forced him to retire at an early age. Alfred was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He loved bowling, fishing and especially watching his children and grandchildren playing sports. He will be truly missed by all but we have many special memories to carry in our hearts. Survivors include his wife, Vernice of 60 wonderful years. His children Betty MacArthur, Terry (Lee Ann) Johnston, Judy (Dan) Weed all of Devils Lake and Carol (Dean) Berg of Moore, MT. Sixteen grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren, a sister Mary (Eugene) Leiphon of Devils Lake, brother-in-law Clayton (Cathy) Henke also of Devils Lake, sister-in-law Connie Henke of Auburn, WA and nine nieces and nephews. Alfred was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law Edward and Elfrieda Henke; son Richard Johnston; son-in-law Michael MacArthur and brother-in-law Norman Henke.