Virgil Johnson

Virgil C. Johnson, 83 of Fargo, died Saturday, August 21, 2010 at Bethany Retirement Living under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Virgil was born on October 2, 1926 in Daneville Township, North Dakota to Herman and Ruth (Christensen) Johnson.  He graduated from high school in Crosby, ND in 1947.  He started working with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company before serving in the Army during the Korean Conflict.  Virgil married Marvel Zavalney on April 7, 1951 in Parshall, ND.  After his discharge from the military he continued working with Northwestern Bell until his retirement in 1983.  From 1962-1965 he served on the North Dakota Medical Center Advisory Council and from 1973-1979 he served on the Social Service Board of North Dakota.  Following his retirement he stayed active by helping Marvel's brothers with farming, helped with cemetery maintenance in Moorhead and also with auto auctions.  He enjoyed coin collecting and square dancing and was a member of "Y" Promenaders and Circle 8 square dancing clubs and was a life member of Red River Valley Coin Club.  Virgil was also an active member of Telephone Pioneers, Mended Hearts and St. John Lutheran Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Luella Lee Johnson; 3 brothers, Lyle, DeMiles and Roger; step-brother, Ervin Lee and granddaughter, Memory Pike.

Virgil is survived by his wife, Marvel of Fargo; son, Gary (Eileen) Johnson of Apple Valley, MN; daughters, Deborah (Ken) Nicolas of Dripping Springs, TX, Gail Johnson of Alexandria, VA, Sherri (John) Pike of Alexandria, VA; grandchildren, Phyllip Johnson, Alicia Johnson, William Pike, Daniel Pike; brothers, Glenn (Diania) Johnson of Underwood, ND, Mark (Vicki) Johnson of Luck, WI; step-brothers, Glen (Vicki) Lee of Crosby, ND; step-sisters, Marion (John) Benter of Crosby, ND, Alice (Gerald) Homstead of Yerington, NV and Marlys (Allen) Ekness of Westby, MT.

Memorials are preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley.