Leonard S. Johnson, 89, Belfield, died Monday, March 1, 2010 at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Health Center, Dickinson. Leonard’s memorial service will be at 2 p.m., Friday, March 5, 2010 at Ladbury Funeral Service with Pastor Tim Voth officiating. Inurnment will take place in the spring at Belfield Lutheran Cemetery, Belfield. Military honors will be given by the Belfield American Legion William C. Blair Post #144.
Leonard was born August 27, 1920 to Oscar and Tilda (Lalander) Johnson at Ytteran, Sweden. The Johnson family came to the United States in 1923 and settled on a farm in Nelson County near Michigan and Petersburg, N.D. Leonard attended country schools and helped on the farm. Leonard joined the Navy in 1942 and served in the Pacific in LST 274, he was honorably discharged in 1945.
Leonard worked in the oilfields as a driller for 30 years and was on the first rig in North Dakota and later on the first rig in Alaska, oilfield jobs took him to Montana and South Dakota as well. Leonard married Grace Simpson in Watford City. The Johnsons owned and operated the Bel Vu Motel in Belfield from 1966 until 1972. In September 1972 they move to Dickinson and returned to Belfield in 1995. For 18 years beginning in 1985 Leonard and Grace would spend winters in Texas until age and distance caused them to remain in North Dakota year round. Leonard was a member of the Belfield American Legion and Belfield Seniors Center.
Leonard is survived by his wife, Grace; four daughter, Lois (Joe) Smith, Selkirk Manatoba, Canada, Merle Gratz, Dickinson, Audrey (Dave) Kuntz, Belfield, and Barbara (Ralph) Froehlich, Dickinson; one son, Ronnie (Young), Long Beach, Calif.; one sister, Adelaide Gunderson, Michigan, 17 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, one sister Adeline Berdahl, one brother
Alan, one grandson, Barry Reiss, and one great-grandson, Trevor Froehlich.
