Marlys J. Johnson

Marlys Jane Johnson went to be with her Lord on September 5, 2012, in Fargo, ND. She was born on July 24, 1932, in Valley City, ND, to Clara (Fredrickson) and Paul Doering. She grew up in Tower City and attended school there. She had one older brother, Edwin, and one younger sister, Delphine. She married Leslie O. Johnson from Fingal, ND, on December 20, 1955. They had nine children.

Marlys was a loving and generous woman whose primary sources of joy were her family and her faith in God. She loved all babies and little ones, and they loved her. An avid reader and a passionate student of the Bible, Marlys passed on her love of books and learning to her children and grandchildren. She loved the Lord Jesus with all her heart and shared her unwavering faith in God with all. Her favorite scripture passage was the 23rd Psalm, The Lord Is My Shepherd. She also loved the Lord’s Prayer.

Marlys encountered many challenges and hardships during her life, but she faced all with courage and faith. Marlys was—and now her memory will be—a constant source of strength and love for those of us who had the good fortune to have been close to her. Our precious mother and grandmother taught us how to love, to share, to give, and to trust in God. She will be greatly missed.

Marlys is survived by her seven children: Sheree (Ken) Kornkven, Candice (Lorin) Nielsen, Tammie Nyland, Leslie Jr., Dawn (Mark) Hauff, Bridget (Tim) Hill, and Lisa (Tim) Thompson, 18 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way.

Marlys was preceded in death by her husband, Leslie, in 1997, her parents, siblings, two infant sons, Jeffrey and Timothy, and a grandson, Kaleb.

Funeral services will be Monday, September 10 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethany Retirement Living, 201 University Drive So., in Fargo, followed by burial at the Hill Side Cemetery in Fingal, ND.

Visitation and prayer will be from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. the morning of the funeral.