Ward Arthur Johnson Sr. Obituary (1929

Ward Arthur Johnson Sr., 83, Bismarck, North Dakota, passed away Thursday, July 4, 2013, in the Baptist Home, Bismarck. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 PM, Monday, July 8, 2013, at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Bismarck with The Most Reverend David D. Kagan, Bishop officiating. Visitation is scheduled for Sunday, July 7, 2013, from 4-6:00 PM with a Vigil and Knights of Columbus Rosary service beginning at 6:00 PM, at DaWise-Perry Funeral Services, Mandan. Visitation continues one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Ward was born December 22, 1929, at Highland Park, Illinois, to Clifford and Ida (Moen) Johnson. He was raised in Marshfield, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois. At the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and served in the South Pacific, Hawaii, and Duluth, MN, where he met his wife, Elizabeth (Betty) Pietrowski. They were married at St. Clements Catholic Church on July 18, 1953. Ward went to work for the former Northern Pacific railroad in Duluth, MN, and continued there after the merger. He worked in the roundhouse, and then transferred to the engine crew, as an engineer. He transferred to Minneapolis then to Mandan, ND and retired after 42 1/2 years of service. Ward led an active life. He was a Cub Scout leader when his sons were young. He always had a love of flying and took flying lessons and received his license and owned his own plane. He liked to fly to Minot on Sunday mornings after church for breakfast. Ward was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Bismarck VFW Post #1326. In 1985 he was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church. He served Christ the King parish in Mandan. His main ministry was visiting shut-ins and people in the hospital. After he retired, Ward and Betty traveled around the country. They settled in Yuma, AZ, in the winter and joined St. Joseph the Worker, a small parish in Wellton, AZ, where he served as Deacon for three years. He is survived by his wife Betty, four daughters, Penny (Lance) Barker, Burnsville MN, Peggy (Ed) Fox, Olympia, WA, Phyllis Johnson, Augusta, GA, Beth (Darcie) Handt, Bismarck, ND; three sons, DuWayne (Sara) Johnson, Wedgefield, SC, Robin (Kathy) Johnson, Lakeville, MN, and Joe Johnson, Fargo ND; thirteen grandchildren, Claire and Philip Fox, Jeremy Johnson, Christine Johnson, Rebecca (AJ) Besancon, Noah, Seth and Mara Johnson, Kelsey, Emily, and Ethan Handt, Krystal (Kyle) McLean, and Nicole Johnson; two great-grandchildren, Gavyn McLean and Cameron Johnson; one brother, Wayne (Dorothy), Farmington, MO; one sister, Barbara Morgan, Tomah, WI; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, one son, Ward (Bud), Jr, his brother Ken (Gerry) Sanders, step-father, Ed Gustafson, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association or the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. Please sign Ward's guestbook and share memories at www.dawiseperry.com. Funeral arrangements are being made with DaWise-Perry Funeral Services, Mandan, North Dakota.