James Johnson, age 83 of Mahnomen, MN, died on Friday, February 5, 2016, in Fargo, ND, surrounded by his family.

James Melvin was born March 30, 1932, in Becker County the son of William and T. Nellie (Horan) Johnson. His youth was spent in the Lake Park, MN, area where attended School Dist. # 27. In 1950, he began working at Wild Rice Electric in Mahnomen until he entered the United States Air Force and served during the Korean War. Upon his honorable discharge in 1953, he returned to the Mahnomen area and continued his employment with Wild Rice Electric as a lineman. On August 23, 1958, James was united in marriage to Marlys Geray at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Beaulieu. The couple made their home in Mahnomen where they raised their family. After 44 years of dedicated service, Jim retired from Wild Rice Electric as the Maintenance Foreman.

Over the years, Jim held memberships with the Mahnomen American Legion Isaacson-Bjorge Post #31, the Mahnomen Rod and Gun Club and the Knights of Columbus Mahnomen Council including past Grand Knight. Jim was also a long time member of St. Michael's Catholic Church and was on the Mahnomen Volunteer Fire Department for many years. Jim cherished spending time with his family. He loved the outdoors and its many activities. He was especially passionate about hunting and fishing. He spent hours catching and patiently cleaning sunfish with his grandchildren. Jim always looked forward to hunting season and passed on this love to his kids and grandkids. He never got tired of a good hunting or fishing story, maybe a little embellished at the Red Apple.

Summers were enjoyed at the lake, camping. Four wheeling was a sport Jim was always game for. The grandkids loved going through the mud, leaving Grandpa washing and polishing only to do it all again the next weekend. His grin said it all! The days were followed with supper and evenings on the pontoon dropping a line and visiting with his kids and grandchildren. These nights ended with a bonfire, s'mores and reliving the day's events. MN winters didn't keep Jim from weekend fun. He enjoyed snowmobile rides and roasting hotdogs in the woods or staring hours down a hole in the fish house spearing northerns. He also loved dancing and listening to polka music. He thoroughly loved his time spent with family and friends. Jim was always there for us. His heart was for his family and friends. He took pride in being present for games, school programs and always being there to lend a hand to fix just about anything. He will be greatly missed, but we will treasure all the memories and carry a part of him with us in all we do.

Jim is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marlys, of Mahnomen; two daughters, Judy (John) Bellanger Dahl of Perham, MN, and JoAnn (Terry) Miller of Reiles Acres, ND; two sons, Douglas (Londa) Johnson of Hawley, MN, and David Johnson of Bloomington, MN; 11 grandchildren: Marcus, Jake, and Hunter Miller, Melissa Lepper, Ryan and Anthony Dahl, Luke, Micah, Masyn, Brynne and Briah Johnson; two great-grandchildren, Rex and Mikko Lepper; sisters-in-law: Yvonne Johnson, of Fargo, ND, Margaret Johnson of Lake Park, MN, Marion Kappes of Thief River Falls, MN, and Phyllis (Duane) Nelson of Sparks, NV; brother-in-law, Don (Kay) Geray of Mahnomen and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Nellie, in-laws, John and Angie Geray; daughter, Marie; son-in-law, Wayne Bellanger; two brothers, John William and Raymond; brother-in-law, Vern Kappes and sister-in-law, Paulette Geray.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00am on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Beaulieu, MN. Visitation was at the Anderson Family Funeral Home in Mahnomen on Monday, February 8, 2016, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm, with a Prayer Service and KC Rosary at 6:30 pm. Interment was at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery.