Dean M. Johnson

Dean Johnson, age 89, passed away on November 15, 2024, in Bismarck-Mandan, ND.

Cremation has taken place. 

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, November 30, 2024, at First Lutheran Church, 800 N 7th St, Bismarck, with the Rev. Allen Wagner officiating. To view the service livestream, click this link First Lutheran Church Bismarck - YouTube

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. 

Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Dean Malroy Johnson was born June 5, 1935, in Powers Lake, ND, the son of George and Inga (Hassel) Johnson. He was raised and attended schools in Columbus, ND. He graduated from Columbus High School in 1953. Following graduation, Dean worked for a short time in Montana as a ranch hand. He returned to Larson, ND where he worked for the Great Northern Railroad. In 1954, he took a job as a lineman with Burke-Divide Electric Co-op in Columbus and Kenmare, ND. Dean accepted a position as foreman with Capital Electric Co-op at McClusky, ND in 1956. It was during this time that Dean met and married Donella (Bold) Johnson on May 3, 1958, in Bismarck. They celebrated their 66th anniversary in 2024. 

Dean was transferred to Capital Electric Co-op at Bismarck, ND in 1961, where he worked as lineman foreman until 1976. Dean went to work for Becker-Huber Electric and L&H Electric. In 1982, Dean earned his Master Electrician License and started Johnson Electric, Inc, where he worked until his retirement in 1999. He held his Master Electrician License in retirement and continued to work odd electrical jobs for a time.

Dean and Donnie lived on River Road in Bismarck for 20 years and later moved to Pick City, ND where they spent summers for 13 years and then traveled to the South—Arizona, New Mexico, Texas—spending the winter months there for many years. Subsequently, they moved back to Bismarck.

Dean was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Bismarck, a life member of the Elks in Bismarck, and a member of the Central Hog Group in Mandan.

Dean enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, always available to give advice or just being around if anyone needed a helping hand.

 His favorite past times were hunting, fishing for Walleye in the river and Salmon in Lake Sakakawea, and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. 

He had a vast knowledge of how things worked and was able to repair and “make it run.”

He is survived by his sons, Milo Johnson, Mandan, and Michael Johnson, Chaska, MN; daughters, Monica (Ken) McCleary and Mary Lou Johnson, both of Bismarck; sister, Ilene (Georgina) Hoff; and eight grandchildren, Joren (Emily) Johnson, Megan (Jordan) Boyko, Mallory (Patrick) Anderson, Michelle (Addison) Allex, Cori (Mike) VanVleet, Alyssa (August) Shockman, Anna Johnson, and Brett Johnson; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Donella; parents, George and Inga; brother, Gordan (Janice) Johnson; and sister; Evelyn (Reuben) Holte. 

The family prefers memorials to Burleigh County Senior Center, 315 N 20th St, Bismarck, ND 58501 and the Salvation Army, 601 S Washington St., Bismarck, ND 58501.