Thomas Johnson

Life-long Bismarck resident Thomas William Johnson “Tom” passed into the Lord’s hands Tuesday, August 3 2010. A funeral service will be held Friday, August 6, at 10 a.m., at The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Bismarck, with Father Austin Vetter and Father Brian Gross presiding. Burial at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan will follow a luncheon. Visitation will be held from 3:00 pm until 9:00 pm Thursday at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Life-long Bismarck resident Thomas William Johnson “Tom” passed into the Lord’s hands Tuesday, August 3, 2010. Tom was born and raised into one of Bismarck’s “Pioneer” families. Through his mother’s side Wyman and Griffin, the family came to Bismarck in 1873 with the Johnson name following shortly thereafter. Tom attended the old Roosevelt Elementary School, Bismarck High School class of 1948 and North Dakota State University. Tom had a love for the outdoors and enjoyed boating, airplanes, camping, archery, hunting, and Skeet shooting, a sport in which he won the Bismarck City Skeet Championship in 1948 and some 50 years later the N.D. State Skeet 410 bore championship. He had fond memories of hunting with his grandpa Ole Johnson and his father Frank J. Johnson east of Bismarck in the McKenzie Sloughs, and it became a tradition he would later share with his son Charles. Tom loved his family dearly and took great care to provide a happy home, showing a most generous heart to all…he was a true gentleman with a wonderful sense of humor. Tom worked for more than 50 years for Ritterbush Architects now REH and liked to tell of spending Bob Ritterbush senior’s 80th birthday together, climbing the buttes of the Badlands trailing a deer. Senior told him “This was one of the best birthdays he’d ever experienced.” There was no place more special to Tom than the “Short Ranch” and the Shorts and Obrigewitchs who welcomed him like family. Tom was a member of the VFW, Elks Club, NRA, American Legion, Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, and was an early generation member of the NISHU Bowman. He served in the Korean War attached to an intelligence division based in Germany as a photo interpreter. Tom married Leatitia “Tish” Kramer deceased at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Linton. They had three children, Sheila Tyler, Charles and Sonja deceased. The household was active, healthy, and exposed to a full course of summer vacations, family holiday get-togethers and picnics with friends. After Tish passed away in 1991, Tom later married Ruth Owens. Tom and Ruth enjoyed camping, traveling, and experiencing the beauty of the outdoors. Ruth was a true comfort to Tom in his years of declining health and was a pillar of strength and support for him. He leaves behind his wife, Ruth Owens; son, Charles of Minot, ND; daughter Sheila Tyler, her husband Jim, and the joy of Tom’s life, granddaughter Kelly Tyler, all of Encinitas, California. Tom also leaves behind stepdaughter, Diane Z. Buchli Zuger, her husband Ian, and their children, Zane and Annika of St. Simons Island, GA; stepson, Russell Zuger and daughter Lois, Ann Arbor, MI. Tom is preceded in death by his wife Tish Kramer; daughter Sonja; father and mother, Frank J. and Catherine Johnson Griffin; his brother Charles Emmett Johnson, and Aunt Julia Johnson. The family is deeply indebted to the services and friendship of Dr. Jeff Smith. Jeff you were a class act throughout and Dad was thrilled to have you in his life! In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Bismarck Ronald McDonald House, 609 North 7th Street, Bismarck, ND 58501.

Thomas Johnson

May 25, 1929 - August 3, 2010