STUART D JOHNSON

Stuart Johnson, 61, of Oberon, passed away on August 5, 2016 surrounded by his children while at St. Gabriel’s Community in Bismarck, ND. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 11, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Gilbertson Funeral Home in Devils Lake, ND. Funeral services will be held to honor Stuart on Friday, August 12, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Devils Lake, ND. The burial will follow near Minnewaukan at the Stony Lake Cemetery. Stuart Douglas Johnson was born in New Rockford, ND to Emmet and Dorothy (Korbel) Johnson on August 22, 1954. He was raised on the family farm near Oberon, ND with his elder brother and sister, Dennis and Rhoene. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Minnewaukan. He attended elementary through senior high school in Minnewaukan as well, participating as an active member of the Lallie Ag 4-H Club in support of his activities on the family farm throughout his studies. Stuart was also active in sports, participating in both football and basketball. After graduating from high school in 1972 Stuart went on to attend NDSCS in Wahpeton, ND. He graduated with a degree in welding and moved to Fargo after accepting a position at Fargo Tank & Steel. He married Susan Laber on June 29, 1974 with whom he had three children: Brad Stuart in 1977, Ryan Douglas in 1978, and Nicole Renae in 1981. Stuart moved back to Minnewaukan in 1975 to farm full time with his father, Emmet. During the same time period, he was also employed by Benson County Abstract. In 1983 Stuart began custom harvesting throughout the Great Plains States with his brother Dennis. Stuart married Doreen Laverdure on June 14, 1986 with whom he had a daughter, Rhiannon Danae, in 1988. He continued his work on the farm raising both crops and cattle prior to being employed as a truck driver with A&H Transfer in 1997. Stuart found that the family farm was his true passion and again pursued farming full time in 2001. He served as a board member of the Equity Coop Elevator in Sheyenne for a time as well. Always hardworking, honest, and caring of others Stuart often found himself forsaking things he needed to do in order to assist friends, neighbors, and family. He always enjoyed a good cup of coffee and visiting about the goings on around the farm. Always interested in classic cars, but lacking the time to devote to them, he recently had his ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air fully restored and had acquired a ’69 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. While his Chevy Bel Air was painted a beautiful shade of candy apple red the true apple of his eye were his grandchildren. Stuart is survived by his sons, Brad Johnson of Bismarck, and Ryan Johnson and his wife Nicole of Miles City, MT; two daughters, Nicole Johnson of Miles City, MT, and Rhiannon Betz and her husband, Chase, of Bismarck; grandchildren Kya and Jace Johnson, Haley and Aydan Price, Parker and Preston Betz; brother Dennis Johnson and his wife Donna of Devils Lake; sister Rhoene Jessup and her husband Mike of Spokane, WA; along with his dear friend Jill Weber of New Rockford and several other extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, Emmet and Dorothy.