Donella Johnson

Donella (Donnie) Johnson, age 87, passed away on October 16, 2024, in Bismarck, 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. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Donella Luverne Bold was born on October 19, 1936, in McClusky, ND the daughter of Vernal and Mabel (Severson) Bold. She was raised and attended schools in McClusky, ND graduating from McClusky High School in 1954. Donella graduated from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND in 1958 with a BA in Nutrition and Dietetics. She worked as a Licensed Registered Dietitian at MedCenter One (formerly Bismarck Hospital), Mandan Villa Long Term Care Facility, and the ND State Department of Health, Division of Health Facilities. 

Donella married Dean M. Johnson on May 3, 1958, in Bismarck. They celebrated their 66th anniversary this year. 

Donella loved life, her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking, quilting, knitting, and reading. One of her favorite things to do was ride with her husband on his Harley. She was a member of First Lutheran Church in Bismarck, American Legion Auxiliary Post #124 in McClusky, the Riverdale Quilters Guild in Riverdale, Missouri Valley Quilters Guild in Bismarck, and the Central Hog Group in Mandan. 

During her retirement, Donnie spent 20 years wintering down south. She enjoyed riding Harley with Dean, quilting, and teaching quilting classes. 

She is survived by her husband, Dean; two sons, Milo (Mandan) and Michael (Chaska, MN); two daughters, Monica (Ken) McCleary and Mary Lou Johnson, both of Bismarck; one sister-in-law, Leona Bold, Fullerton, CA; and eight grandchildren, Joren (Emily) Johnson, Missoula, MT; Megan (Jordan) Boyko; Mallory (Patrick) Anderson, Dickinson, ND; Michelle (Addison) Allex; Cori (Mike) VanVleet, Alyssa (August) Shockman, Lincoln, ND; Anna Johnson and Brett Johnson, Chaska, MN, as well as many nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, six brothers, Russel, Dallas, Forrest, Wendell, Darrel, and Kenneth Bold; and two sisters, Betty Nies and Bonnie Wilson. 

The family prefers memorials to Bismarck Meals on Wheels, 721 W Ave A, Bismarck, ND 58501 and the Burleigh County Senior Center, 315 N 20th St, Bismarck, ND 58501.